Defender Liam McFayden went in goal for Stocksbridge
Victorious Stocksbridge Park Steels had defender Liam McFadyen in goal for the second half, but that did not stop them overturning a two-goal deficit in the Integro Doodson League Cup tie at Harrogate Railway.
Stocksbridge were seemingly dead and buried at half-time, especially when goalkeeper David Reay did not appear after the break because of a groin problem.
Instead his brother Matt was the hero as he stepped up to the mark with two goals to help send the Steels through to round two.
Both sides had to deal with difficult conditions because of the wind and the heavy pitch and Railway benefited the most in the first half.
A stunning free kick from Jack Stockdill from distance fired the Rail ahead after ten minutes and some good chances followed.
Stockdill went close again and captain Dan Thirkell was unlucky when his shot came back off the post.
Will Peers provided the breakthrough for the second goal as his low effort was saved and Saturday’s hero Steve Bromley was there to score the rebound.
Harrogate could have thought it was a lucky week for them after half-time after goalkeeper Reay was replaced by one of the Steels’ main defenders.
In reality, McFadyen had nothing to do as Stocksbridge kept Railway pressed in their half for the most of the second half.
With the wind penning them in, Railway survived a series of scrambles from dangerous corners until the pressure eventually told with 20 minutes to go.
Even the goal took a few bites of the cherry as Railway player-assistant manager Simon Wood denied the visitors twice before Reay forced the ball home.
The equaliser was a repeat of their first goal, apart from the identity of the goal-scorer as this time it was Joe Lumsden, who scored his third goal in three games since arriving from Armthorpe Welfare.
Penalties loomed until midfielder Harrison Biggins floated a free kick to the back-post and Reay was slid the winner past Tom Stewart at the back-post.
The dramatic finish ensured a third straight victory for Stocksbridge, but it could be costly because of goalkeeper Reay’s forced early exit.
The injury was the last thing that Chris Hilton wanted ahead of the massive FA Trophy tie at Ilkeston Town on Saturday.
Harrogate Railway: Stewart, Parkes, Pells, Low, Horne (Clamp HT), Thirkell (captain), Sharrocks, Peers, Bromley, Stockdill, Mason (Wood 61). Subs unused: Ibrahimi, Goodwin, Dhesi.
Stocksbridge Park Steels: D Reay (McFadyen HT), Rhodes, Coleman, Patterson (captain) (Shaw 65), Thompson, M Reay, Fox, Biggins, Ruthven, Lumsden, Gregory. Subs unused: Meade, Hilton, Laight.
Referee: Duncan Street
Ref Rating: 8/10
Attendance: 47
Man of the match: Ben Rhodes (Stocksbridge Park Steels)