Match Report - Stocksbridge Park Steels 2 - 1 SCTFC

It was a wet and windy day at Bracken Moor, where the Royals took on Stocksbridge Park Steels in this Northern Premier league fixture.

Having beat the Steels 3-0 at Coles Lane Sutton were confident of a good result, especially after the 6-0 drubbing of Market Drayton.

The squad was Gwilliams, George, Christophorou, Moore, Mutton, Ganley, Usher-Shipway, Desean, Ahenkorah, Leek, and Moore.

Sutton started the game well putting pressure on the Steels defence early on.

Ben Usher-Shipway had the first chance for Sutton when he picked up a crossfield ball and fired across the goal forcing the young 17 year old keeper to make a diving save.

The Steels took the ball straight down the other end, and after some poor defending by the Royals, Whitham hit a shot across Gwilliams into the bottom corner. 1-0 Stocksbridge.

Ryan Shaw got injured after a fowl and had to be replaced by Evans after just 21 minutes.

Edwin ran onto the ball from a ball through from Usher-Shipway, turned his man, and crossed into the box. Moore, who received the pass, was brought down before he could get his shot off, sadly for Sutton the referee decided it was ok. Where is VAR when you need it.

Usher-Shipway’s cross come shot rebounded off the goalkeeper’s chest, just behind the incoming Leek who missed out on a tap in.

A Shipway corner was headed towards goal, but was blocked on the line to prevent Sutton from getting back into it.

The Steels took the ball down the Sutton end, and against the run of play doubled their lead from a free header by Mangham. 2-0 Stocksbridge.

Shipway tried to get Sutton back in the game with a shot across goal from distance, but again the keeper was equal to it.
Edwin was then put through one on one with the keeper, the bobbly surface caught him out and the shot went high and wide.

The first half finished 2-0, with Sutton unlucky not to get something from the first half.

The second half started with Toothy making a change. He brought Gibson on for Moore with Sutton throwing extra firepower to get back into the game.

Gibson was soon in the action from a long ball by Gwilliams which put him in on goal, but the wind took the ball away from him before he could make a connection. The wind was taking the ball in all directions which was making the game difficult.

Lewis made a good save minutes later to keep the score at 2-0. Gwilliams had not had much to do today.

77 minutes in and Hurst came on for Christophorou with Sutton desperate to get back into the game.

The weather had a big part to play in the game with neither side having any clear-cut chances in the half.

Evans had an effort on target, but their keeper, who was playing out of this world this afternoon was equal to it.

Right at the death and Sutton got a breakthrough, a ball into the box was met by Gibson with a back headed goal into the top corner. 2-1 Stocksbridge.

The game finished 2-1 to Stocksbridge. It had been a difficult watch, mainly due to the conditions. Sutton were unlucky not to get something from the game, and if the goal had come earlier, they may well have done just that.

Gibson showed why he is our current top scorer, and maybe has shown that he should be starting the game.

Well the lads have another game at home on Tuesday night, so not long to try and put this game behind them.

Let’s get behind the lads on Tuesday and back to winning ways.

COYR.