Former Nostell striker Danny Critchlow scored Stocksbridge’s equaliser in the draw with Shaw Lane
Danny Critchlow’s second half equaliser earned Stocksbridge Park Steels a 1-1 draw with highly-fancied Shaw Lane Aquaforce at Bracken Moor.
Critchlow cancelled out Matt Thornhill’s penalty to continue Stocksbridge’s positive start to the Evo Stik Division One South season.
The Steels had to play the last five minutes with ten men as their captain Lee Garside was harshly sent off after an altercation with Aquaforce defender Mohammed Sabo.
Whilst the pick of the Division One South weekend games did live up to its expectations from being a blockbuster, it did have some dramatic moments – once it sprang to life deep into the first half.
Garside’s volley that flew just inches away from goal started the stats count and showed that the Steels were not going to be push-overs.
Shaw Lane’s opener was against the run of play close to half-time. Gavin Allott chased down a lost cause down the left-wing and strode into the box. Richard Patterson made a rash challenge and that enabled Thornhill to score from the spot.
Some would have expected Aquaforce to hold on for the win, but defensively they were vulnerable. Within 60 seconds of the goal, goalkeeper Ian Deakin had to pull them out of the fire by denying Critchlow from inside the six-yard-box.
He couldn’t do the same three minutes into the second half as Sabo and Stef Holt misjudged Steels goalkeeper David Reay’s huge kick downfield. The former Nostell striker pulled away and drilled the ball past Deakin.
Danny Critchlow battles with Aquaforce defender Stef Holt
Gavin Allott is taken out by Richard Patterson for Shaw Lane’s penalty. Photo: WhiteRosePhotos
Rory Coleman reacts in disbelief at the penalty award, while Lee Bennett calls the Shaw Lane physio on
Matt Thornhill scores the penalty
Danny Critchlow levels the scores after the game
Gave Allott is met by a sea of yellow Stocksbridge shirts
Stocksbridge captain Lee Garside was controversially sent off late-on
Stocksbridge manager Chris Hilton gave his view on the red card to referee Nigel Smith at the end of the game
Aquaforce dominated possession in the second half and there was a ten minute spell when Craig Elliott’s men should have wrapped the game up.
Allott was denied by a sea of yellow jerseys as he fired at goal from a good position. More lost cause chasing from the former Frickley forward then ended with substitute Adam Priestley wasting a glorious chance from 12 yards.
Priestley nearly made up for the miss by providing Aquaforce’s best opportunity. He crossed for Jimmy Eyles, whose close range effort was blocked by Reay. As the ball dropped outside the six-yard-box, Lee Bennett came charging into the penalty area and seemed certain to score. As the Stocksbridge defenders threw their bodies in the way, Bennett blazed the ball high over the crossbar.
With Shaw Lane pressing hard for the winner, the Steels lost their main frontman captain in controversial circumstances.
Those who followed the ball rolling into the arms of Deakin will have missed Sabo strike Garside with his arms in front of assistant referee Colin Unwin.
Garside reacted by half-heartedly kicking a leg out at the defender, but did not make contact. Referee Nigel Smith did not even consult his assistant, who was closer to the incident, before showing Garside his red card – making a mountain out of a molehill.
Sabo somehow escaped without punishment and finished the match as the home side managed to see it out and even cause Aquaforce some problems.
Stocksbridge Park Steels manager Chris Hilton:
“I would say they had a lot of chances, but look at ours.
“There was Lee Garside’s volley in the first half along with Danny Critchlow’s one-on-one. Even at the end we could have pinched it if we had played the final ball right.
“There was a period of five minutes when our goalkeeper was on the floor and we were blocking shots, but that is what your defence is there to do.
“I think it was a fair result. We didn’t do enough to win it. They had quite a lot of possession.”
On Garside’s red card: “I said to the referee that it should have been our free kick and asked him why he didn’t sent their centre-half off?
“The referee could have given them both yellow cards and let them go. The referee says he’s right, but the decision has gone.”
Shaw Lane Aquaforce manager Craig Elliott:
“It is a disappointment from the perspective from how we played last Saturday and Tuesday because I thought we were finding a bit of form.
“We had a few players back from injury so I was looking for us to play well today.
“Performance-wise it did not match up to what we wanted. There is no excuses, but we lost our right-back at half-time and then Stef Holt ten minutes into the second half so it did affect our defence.
“We were in a good position and the goal we conceded was a poor goal from our point of view.”
Stocksbridge Park Steels: D Reay, Meade, Coleman, Patterson, McFadyen (Cardwell 81), Laight, Biggins, Hinchliffe, Garside (captain), Critchlow (Poulton 79), Gregory. Subs unused: Vinten, Thompson, M Reay.
Shaw Lane Aquaforce: Deakin, Stohrer (Priestley HT), Thornton, Darley, Holt (Meynell 55), Sabo, Wafula, Thornhill (captain), Allott, Bennett, Eyles (Davidson 80). Subs unused: Istead, Morris.
Referee: Nigel Smith
Ref Rating: 5/10
Attendance: 172
Man of the match: Gavin Allott (Shaw Lane Aquaforce)