Evo Stik Division One South
Stocksbridge Park Steels 2-0 Chasetown
- Stocksbridge move up to ninth – five points behind the play-offs.
- Deadly striker duo Joe Lumsden and Scott Ruthven got the goals.
- Chris Hilton’s men face play-offs rivals Lincoln United and Shaw Lane Aquaforce in their next two games.
Joe Lumsden scored the opener as Stocksbridge boosted their hopes of reaching the play-offs
Stocksbridge Park Steels are starting to emerge as serious play-offs candidates. The seven points collected over a week eight days ago gave them hope. The defeat to Belper Town in midweek was a setback, but the win over sixth-placed Chasetown, a rival for the top five spots, shows Stocksbridge can definitely mount a decent challenge. With quite a number of games in hand too, their destiny is in their own hands.
Rain, not snow this week, lashed down throughout at Bracken Moor. Neither side imposed themselves on their respective opposition defences for quite a long period of the first half. The pace of young Steels winger Spencer Maw, the Sheffield United youngster, was a thorn in the side of Chasetown. Maw, twice, sent teasing deliveries towards Scott Ruthven at the back-post and Chasetown only just survived.
The initial blow to the visitors was dealt by a player that has been playing in the Toolstation NCEL Premier Division for the past few seasons and since arriving at Stocksbridge in October has taken to the Evo Stik like a duck to water. Joe Lumsden, latching onto goalkeeper David Reay’s long kick, manoeuvred his way round the Chasetown defence before sending a classy finish into the far bottom corner from 18 yards.
Stocksbridge midfielder Corey Gregory closes down Chasetown left-back Jonathan Haynes
Stocksbridge Park Steels goalkeeper David Reay made some important saves
Scott Ruthven sealed Stocksbridge’s victory with a neat toe-poke
Goalkeeper Reay, a week on his since his hairy performance against Basford United, made a significant contribution to the victory. Twice he made himself big as Chasetown carved out dangerous chances in the second half. His latter stop from George Washbourne was arguably a goal-saver.
Harrison Biggins, as Stocksbridge sought to land the fatal blow, hit the crossbar with a thundering free kick. Chasetown began to huff and puff after failing to equalise and the fantastic Lumsden provided the killer pass to put them out of their misery close to the 75th minute mark. His through ball split the tired visiting defence open and presented his strike-partner Ruthven with a golden opportunity. Chasetown goalkeeper Josh Bateman, realising his defence were in huge trouble, sprinted out to the penalty spot. Ruthven won the race and with a neat toe-poke, the striker rounded a perfect day for his side.
Stocksbridge Park Steels manager Chris Hilton:
Stocksbridge Park Steels: D Reay, Meade, Tootle, Gregory, McFadyen (captain), M Reay, Maw (Poulton 81), Biggins, Lumsden (Litchfield 84), Coleman (Palling 74). Subs unused: Thompson, Laight.
Chasetown: Bateman, Williams, Haynes (Slater 79), Thompson, Eze, Brown (Gould 70), Mugisha (Turton HT), Dance, Davies, Sullivan (captain), Washbourne. Sub unused: Kiembi.
Referee: Iain Siddall
Ref Rating: 8/10
Attendance: 146
Man of the match: Joe Lumsden (Stocksbridge Park Steels)