NPL Division One East
Stocksbridge Park Steels 2-0 Tadcaster Albion
Super-sub Joe Lumsden scored two quick-fire second half goals literally two minutes after the entering the field, ensuring Stocksbridge Park Steels defeated ten man Tadcaster Albion and continued Ian Richards’ perfect start as manager.
The Steels have now won four on the bounce – with the last three matches producing clean sheets as well – and the winning run breeds confidence of a potential run for the play-offs.
The superb form also proves the view that Chris Hilton had assembled a talented squad before his shock resignation in mid-August as nothing has changed in the personnel department.
This latest victory was by no means straight-forward as Tadcaster wasted a glut of chances in the first half at Bracken Moor.
The visitors will feel the 57th minute sending off of full-back Dan Hartley was the turning point.
But they had enough opportunities to take full control in the opening half.
Des Amponsah missed a one-on-one by firing straight at goalkeeper Edd Hall.
Don Chimalilo burst down the right and his net-buster was tipped over.
Those were the main two chances.
Stocksbridge struggled to carve out many – their best one came via Lewis Whitham’s torpedo which was brilliantly headed off the line by Hartley.
Tadcaster carried on in the same vein straight after the interval.
Romario Vieira was denied by a last-ditch block from inches out.
But the momentum was taken away from Tadcaster as Hartley saw red after kicking out at Michael Trench off-the-ball.
Still that did not discombobulate Tadcaster as Amponsah missed another sitter.
Lumsden, playing against his old club, was thrown into the coliseum and he was masterminded the victory.
Lumsden had yet to score this season and he latched onto a through-ball before turning his defender and sending a low effort into the far bottom corner from eight yards.
That sunk Tadcaster and now with the wind in their sails, Stocksbridge pushed for more.
Scott Ruthven should have done better with his chance but the second goal was coming.
Luke Mangham’s shot from distance was spilled and Lumsden pounced,
His rebound effort was saved but Ruthven took possession of the ball and he took the goalkeeper away from the sticks before laying off Lumsden who thundered it into the top corner to seal the three points.
What They Said
Stocksbridge Park Steels manager Ian Richards
“You could say (Tadcaster) slightly edged possession in the first half.
“We didn’t get to the standards we set against Bridlington and we were a little laboured in possession and we made a couple of wrong decisions offensively and defensively.
“We were a little more open than we would like to be.
“What was credit to the players was the fact Edd didn’t have much to do and we kept it to 0-0.
“We were more in the game in the second half and more competitive.
“The red card changed it and when Joe came in we played with more purpose and intensity and made the advantage of the extra man count by scoring two really well constructed goals.”
Tadcaster Albion interim manager Steve Waide (interview with Tadcaster’s media team)
The Teams
Stocksbridge Park Steels: Hall, Lemon (McFadyen 28), Trench, Finlaw, Ludlam, Fielding, Crofts (Lumsden 67), Goodwin, Mangham (captain), Ruthven, Whitham (Nodder 82). Subs unused: Slater, Turner.
Tadcaster Albion: Davison-Hale, Hartley, Burton, Roper, Papprill, Omolokun, Chimalilo, Vieira (Wilkinson 59), Basic, Crook, Amponsah. Subs unused: Gillga, Hughes, Norman.
Who Was In Charge
Gareth Thomas (8/10)
How Many Were There
154
Man of the Match
Lewis Whitham (Stocksbridge Park Steels)
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NLY Community Sport, run by James Grayson and Connor Rollinson, has always had combatting social isolation at the top of our objectives when running our Disability Football teams.
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