Danny Critchlow put Stocksbridge in front against Norton before the visitors pegged them back. Photo: White Rose Photos
Stocksbridge Park Steels finally secured their Evo Stik Division One South status following a 2-2 stalemate with Norton United at Bracken Moor.
The Steels only needed a point to ensure that struggling Rainworth Miners Welfare cannot catch them and Chris Hilton’s men got what they required after a nervy finish.
The home side had to recover from a bad start to claim their point.
Former Pontefract Collieries player Josh Wright lost the ball in the middle of the park and from there, Norton went onto score through Chris Baker after just three minutes.
To their credit, Stocksbridge stuck to the task and began to exert themselves on the match.
Danny Critchlow hit the crossbar around the time that Hilton chose to change their system with Wright going upfront alongside Critchlow.
The move immediately paid dividends as Wright went from villain to hero. Wright sprinted away in acres of space down the left-wing from halfway line. He reached the penalty area, cut inside and sent an excellent effort into the top corner to equalise.
Critchlow, who actually started the season at Tadcaster, missed a sitter on the stroke of half-time as Stocksbridge searched for the second goal.
The striker made amends straight after the interval. The impressive Kler Heh exploited the Norton defence and laid the ball on a plate for Rory Coleman. The left-back struck for goal from a good angle, but goalkeeper Daniel Roberts made the save. The ball dropped to the ground and Critchlow was on hand to score.
Stocksbridge should have been out of sight by the time Norton equalised with ten minutes to go.
Heh had spurred a brilliant chance after leaving the Norton defence for dead on the halfway line. Goalkeeper Roberts won the battle in the one-on-one with the on-loan Sheffield United player.
It was a game saving moment for Norton and Roberts’ team-mates repaid him with the equaliser when Lee Cropper scored directly from a corner.
Substitute Brodie Litchfield went close in the dying minutes for Stocksbridge, who had a long throw to contend with the final moments.
They rode the pressure and clung on to earn the precious point with four games to spare.
Stocksbridge Park Steels manager Chris Hilton:
“We were slow out of the blocks and they deservedly missed went 1-0 up. We had to change the shape which seemed to suit us.
“Josh Wright went upfront and we changed it from a five to a four at the back to give us a bit more width and I think it worked.
“I think we were comfortable and if we had taken our chances we would have been three or four-one up and out of sight.
“I think we had two clear-cut chances to win the game.
“We would have been 3-1 up, game over, if we had scored our one-on-one. They went straight up the other end and scored directly from the corner.
“Even at 2-2 we had another chance from six-yards out. It was nervy at the end, but that’s how we have been all season. We have not finished teams off when we had chances.
“I don’t think we had a comfortable game all season, but that’s why we are where we are.”
Stocksbridge Park Steels: Andrew, Lever, Coleman, Laight (captain), Cardwell, McFadyen, Biggins, Wright (Garside 69), Critchlow (Litchfield 76), Heh, Haigh. Subs unused: Shaw, Ward, Wilson.
Norton United: Roberts, Bradbury, Green, Smith (captain), Fogg, Beaumont, Diskin (Blackhurst 56), Baker (Clarkson 72), Cropper (Hawthorne 79), Lennon, Cocks.
Referee: Andrew Cawtherley
Ref Rating: 8/10
Attendance: 102
Man of the match: Kler Heh (Stocksbridge Park Steels)