Stocksbridge Park Steels right-back Liam Royles tries to dispossess a Sheffield United attacker
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Words and pictures by James Grayson (@jamesAgrayson, @NonLeagueNorth)
The rebuilding work started at Bracken Moor last night.
The new era under former Worsbrough Bridge manager Chris Hilton began with a carnival atmosphere at the packed home of Stockbridge Park Steels.
The Steels may have lost 3-0 to a Sheffield United under 21s squad, but the bumper crowd saw plenty of signs that Hilton and his assistant Mark ‘Willy’ Wilson can put smiles back on faces at the Sheffield-based club.
A goal on 21 minutes put Sheffield in front and two quick-fire strikes on the hour sealed a deserved pre-season victory for the Football League side.
But the match is just the beginning for Hilton’s Stocksbridge.
Just three players from the side that were relegated from the Evo Stik Premier Division last season were on show.
Despite the defeat, Steels looked like an organised outfit and they were still able to showcase their desire to play a passing game this year .
Hilton told Non League Yorkshire: “We lost 3-0, but we take a lot of positives out of it.
“They’re a good side and they had three or four players who have been in or around the first team.
“We know that we have a lot of work to do. We made a lot of changes so our patten and shape went, but in patches we kept the ball well.
“We could have got on the score-sheet once or twice so it is not all doom and gloom.
“We have something to work with. People have come and seen that we’re going to try and get the ball down and play.
“Obviously we didn’t always play it into the right areas tonight, but once as we get our squad together, it is something we will do.
“Sometimes we kept it for the sake of keeping, but in patches we played good football against a good side.”
Stocksbridge Park Steels goalkeeper Sam Andrews punches the ball away from danger
Hilton’s newcomers Sam Andrews, striker Lee Garside, Chris White, Ryan Laight, Ben Turner and Cole Payne were all on show.
Nathan Joynes was unavailable so missed out on been led welcomed out by a large number of junior players from Stocksbridge’s gigantic junior club who formed a guard of honour.
The kids played a huge part in making the night a huge success and they saw a good Sheffield side put Stocksbridge under some severe pressure.
Young and enthusiastic, Sheffield were a constant danger for Stocksbridge’s defenders.
The opening goal did come through a piece of luck. New goalkeeper Andrews spilled Dan Cockerline’s shot and Ioan Evans pounced and managed to find the net from 12 yards with the rebound attempt.
Stocksbridge’s best chance of the first half fell to Scott Turner with a long distance free kick which flew over the crossbar.
Stocksbridge Park Steels manager Chris Hilton (left) shouting instructions with assistant Mark ‘Willy’ Wilson
Plenty of changes were made by both sides at the break and it was two of Sheffield’s substitutes that helped and doubled their lead.
Oshaye Hutchinson was hauled to the ground just outside the penalty area and up stepped Ben Whiteman to hammer the free kick straight into the top corner.
Stocksbridge then wasted a golden opportunity to score. Chris White, signed from Worsbrough, raced through, but despite being effectively one-on-one with the Sheffield goalkeeper, the striker blasted the ball wide of the goal.
Sheffield quickly punished them with Hutchinson with being allowed too much time on the box which enabled him to waltz through and score.
That was the most disappointing goal from Stocksbridge’s point of view, but the home supporters saw early signs that their team can do well in the Evo Stik Division One South when it all kicks off on August 16th.
Stocksbridge Park Steels: Andrews, Royles, B Turner, Biggins, Laight, Lawrence, S Turner, Knowles, Garside, D Joynes, White. Subs: Scully, Lever, Hughes, Shilitto, Payne, Podmore, Dyer, Stuart.
Sheffield United under 21s: Ramsdale, McDonagh, Hamilton, Cockerline, Evans, Kelly, Heh, Ishmael, Slew, Ellis, Hinchcliffe. Subs: Whiteman, Annerson, Banton, Adebowale, Lewin, Fixter, Gordon, Kenman, Hutchinson, Wright, Ramsey.
Referee: A Tankard