Stocksbridge set for A Question of Sport?

Evo Stik Division One South

Stocksbridge Park Steels 1-2 Basford United

Stocksbridge Park Steels have a great chance of appearing on A Question of Sport’s What Happened Next round in 2017 after conceding the most bizarre penalty you will ever see.

Just seven minutes into the clash at Bracken Moor, Basford were given a penalty after Steels captain Liam McFadyen caught the ball in two hands from Ben Hutchinson’s corner because he had heard the referee’s whistle.

Stocksbridge manager Chris Hilton said he had “never seen anything like it” during his seven years in management, in his post-match interview.

The referee had dealt with some pushing and shoving prior to the kick. He then whistled for the corner to be taken, but Hutchinson jumped the gun and took it a second or two before it sounded – facts that are seen and heard in the video. The ball then dropped into McFadyen’s hands, prompting Basford to surround the referee, who then consulted his assistant who was stood next to Hutchinson when the corner was taken.

Despite the assistant having the best view in the house of the incident and being able to confirm that the corner was hit early, the penalty was awarded – which Hutchinson duly converted with ease by sending goalkeeper David Reay the wrong way.

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Although it had a major bearing, Stocksbridge cannot completely blame the penalty for the defeat. There were half-chances, but without suspended star striker Joe Lumsden the Steels failed to truly penetrate Basford’s back-line.

Tyrelle Shannon-Lewis extended the visitors’ lead as the half-hour approached after being given a free run.

Stocksbridge’s brightest spark was on-loan Sheffield United winger Nathaniel Crofts. His magnificent run and low strike injected hope from nowhere deep into first half stoppage time.

There were odd chances for an equaliser. McFadyen headed wide, while Adam Hinchliffe wasted their best chance by firing straight at Basford goalkeeper Saul Deeney after superb link-up play with Crofts.

The Steels remained in the game right to the death as Reay made two brilliant saves from efforts from Basford’s debutant Kieran Wells, who signed from Handsworth Parramore in midweek.

What They Said

Stocksbridge Park Steels manager Chris Hilton

The Teams

Stocksbridge Park Steels: D Reay, Meade (Poulton 84), Grayson, Gregory, McFadyen (captain), M Reay, Hinchliffe, Biggins, Litchfield (Burbeary 80), Ruthven, Crofts. Subs unused: Rhodes, Whelan, Thompson.

Basford United: Deeney, Smith, Walker, Bertram, Carr (captain), Meikle, Grantham, Howell, Wells, Hutchinson, Shannon-Lewis. Subs: Smith, McNicholas, Knight, Asledu-Boteng, Dixon.