Evo Stik Division One South
Adam Hinchliffe secured Stocksbridge’s 1-0 win over Romulus
Chris Hilton was happy with Stocksbridge Park Steels’ 1-0 win over Romulus, but admitted his team should have been more clinical.
A second half goal from Adam Hinchliffe was all the Steels needed to give their play-offs hope a shot in the arm.
“I think we did make hard work of it because we could have been out of sight by half-time,” Hilton told Non League Yorkshire.
“We should by full-time as well because of the amount of chances we created. That’s two games on the bounce where their goalkeeper has got man of the match.
“I am concerned that we’re not taking our chances, but I would be more concerned if we weren’t creating them.
“We dominated from start to finish and deserved the three points. Dave Reay only had one shot to save in the whole game.”
Nearly all the game was played in the visitors’ half. If young goalkeeper Leighton Smith hadn’t been in such top form, Stocksbridge could have easily reached double figures.
Smith was a very busy man from the word go. Shots from Joe Lumsden and Hinchliffe were saved while Jack Poulton watched a pile-driver come back off the crossbar.
The heat remained firmly on Romulus throughout the second half. Smith twice denied Ruthven from early missiles.
But with 20 minutes remaining, Stocksbridge finally forced a goal. 30 seconds after captain Liam McFadyen’s header was cleared off-the-line, Hinchliffe’s cross from the right confused everyone and it nestled itself in the far bottom corner – earning the Steels an important victory.
The Team
Stocksbridge Park Steels: D Reay, Meade, Grayson, Gregory, M Reay, McFadyen, Hinchliffe (Hobson), Biggins, Lumsden (Ruthven), Burbeary, Poulton. Subs unused: Laight, Thompson.