FA Trophy First Qualifying Round
Stocksbridge Park Steels 2-1 Lancaster City
Stocksbridge hero Joe Lumsden was too good for Lancaster. Picture: Peter Revitt
The love affair between Stocksbridge Park Steels and the FA Trophy continues after Joe Lumsden dramatically won it for Chris Hilton’s men late-on with a fabulous finish.
The Steels reached the first round last year, defeating holders North Ferriby along the way, and they are two more wins away from doing it again.
They defeated Lancaster the hard way as Billy Akrigg put the visitors ahead in the first minute from their opening attack at Bracken Moor.
Former Armthorpe Welfare striker Lumsden equalised midway through the first half. The in-form forward pounced on poor defending and managed to squeeze the ball past the onrushing goalkeeper Michael Hales.
Stocksbridge rode their luck for the opening act of the second half. The usual danger man Jordan Connerton kept finding space and twice in quick succession Steels goalkeeper David Reay thwarted him with good saves.
Reay was needed once more to deny a through Jacob Gregory. From there on Lancaster sat back, happy to accept a replay.
The Steels changed their shape and threw Scott Ruthven into the fray. The changes paid off as it was Ruthven that planted the ball into Lumsden’s feet for the winner. All the plaudits go to Lumsden though.
The Steels favourite needed to bamboozle and get past the last Lancaster defender by taking him one way and then the other. The chance opened up and he chose the hardest spot by sneaking the ball into Hale’s near post. It was a fitting goal to win any game.
Stocksbridge will learn the identity of their next Trophy opponents on Monday.
Action from Stocksbridge 2-1 Lancaster
Stocksbridge Park Steels goalkeeper David Reay made three important saves
Action from Stocksbridge 2-1 Lancaster
Action from Stocksbridge 2-1 Lancaster
What They Said
Stocksbridge Park Steels manager Chris Hilton
The Teams
Stocksbridge Park Steels: D Reay, Meade, Grayson, Gregory, McFadyen (captain), M Reay, Hinchliffe (Poulton 85), Biggins, Lumsden, Smith (Ruthven 75), Crofts (Rhodes 88). Subs unused: Whelan, Thompson.
Lancaster City: Hale, Henry, Clark, Sumner, Westwood, Mercer (Waters 57), Gregory (Russell 81), Wills, Connerton, Akrigg, McKenna (Davidson 63). Subs unused: Anderson, Newbould.
Who Was In Charge
Elliott Swallow (10/10)
Referee Elliott Swallow was excellent
How Many Were There
128
NLY Man of the Match
Joe Lumsden (Stocksbridge Park Steels)
Joe Lumsden on the attack for Stocksbridge