The Bracken Moor Stadium, home of Stocksbridge Park Steels based just on the outskirts of Sheffield. Nicknamed the “Steels” as it’s in the name of the club due to the town’s history of Steel industry work. 24th October 2020 and it’s the visit of Newcastle Town to Stocksbridge, not to be confused with Newcastle of the North East, they’re in the Premier League… It’s the team from Newcastle Under-Lyme of Staffordshire.
This is the club where it all started for the current goals in the most consecutive Premier League games record holder and Premier League Champion: Jamie Vardy! A hero around these parts so much that they have their only stand named after him. After his time at Sheffield Wednesday academy ended, he joined Stocksbridge and did really well! So well that he moved up the leagues and the rest as they say is history!
£8 to watch this Northern Premier League tie! Smashing! Kick Off! Stocksbridge straight out of the blocks causing trouble for the Newcastle defence already here! 6 minutes gone and the ball with Newcastle’s Ryan McLean and he drives down the left hand side, cuts into the box and around the 2 defenders in front… Oh and he’s been tripped… Penalty!! Say’s the Referee!
I thought Penalty straight away but the Stocksbridge fans certainly didn’t… McLean to take for Newcastle. He steps up… Sends the keeper the wrong way and it’s 0-1!! It’s turned into an end to end affair now, Newcastle looking good on the break but Stocksbridge enjoying most of the possession. 17 minutes gone and Stocksbridge driving towards goal, big chance!! Saved by the keeper but only to Luke Mangham… And again saved by the keeper!!! Wonderful double save there!!!
19 minutes gone and the Stocksbridge keeper with the ball and he plays it to Matthew Reay who plays it back to the keeper… Wait no he hasn’t! Ryan McLean beats the keeper to the ball and rolls in the loose ball! Oh it shouldn’t happen to a footballer… The Stocksbridge fans and management less than happy understandably but the Newcastle bench laughing as if they were attending a stand up comedy gig! I would be too if I was them…
Stocksbridge not giving this up without a fight. 22 minutes and here they come, cleared for a corner. The ball comes in… The keeper has missed it… AND IT’S HEADED IN!!!! 1-2!! Reece Fielding with the header! Game on!! “COME ON STOCKSBRIDGE! COME ON STOCKSBRIDGE!!” Some noise from the crowd now!
The game remaining an end to end affair here, I love these sort of games!!! 32 minutes gone and here come Newcastle! The ball on the right hand side, played to Joseph Berks on the edge of the box and he shoots… Blocked but it falls to Ryan Baxter!!! GOAL!!! 1-3! Smashed into the roof of the net from point blank, couldn’t miss!! The game starting to slow down now and the score remained the same at half time.
Second half, 53 minutes gone and a substitution for Newcastle as the scorer of the first 2 goals, Ryan McLean goes off for Nathan Morley. He goes off to claps from the home fans. You love to see it!! But a strange substitution in my opinion, having a great game causing real trouble to the Stocksbridge defence, my guess is that he’s picked up an injury but could that be a lifeline for Stocksbridge?
56 minutes gone, a long throw-in for Stocksbridge in a dangerous position. In it comes, the header… OFF THE POST! Newcastle clear but only to Luke Mangham… It’s in!!!! 2-3!! Game on again!! “COME ON STEELS!!” From the home fans now!
Stocksbridge taking the game to Newcastle now but can’t quite find that killer pass and are also up against an in form goalkeeper. 76 minutes and Luke Mangham has the ball for Stocksbridge 25 yards out, “SHOOT!” cried the Stocksbridge fans. He does!!! GOOD SAVE!!! Can Newcastle hang on?
Into stoppage time now, a throw-in just past the half way line for Stocksbridge. The ball given to Reece Fielding, he goes for goal 35 yards out on the volley… parried out by the keeper to TOM WHITING!!! OH IT’S SAVED BY THE KEEPER AGAIN!! How have they not equalised? It is a corner for Stocksbridge. In it comes, cleared to the edge of the box and the shot comes in… Just wide!! Newcastle hold on and a good 3 points earned there for them!
FT: Stocksbridge Park Steels 2-3 Newcastle Town
Rating
- Atmosphere: 3/10 – A passionate fan base but not a singing fan base sadly, but it certainly felt like a football match for me today.
- The Ground: 6.5/10 – It’s a nice ground with personality. Wooden seats in the stand but inaccessible on one side of the ground. I am a fan of grounds with access on all sides.
- Expense: 10/10 – £8 for 5 goals and an end to end game that got me on the edge of my seat at times!! Can’t ask for more than that!
- Overall Experience: 8/10 – I really enjoyed it all in all! A friendly club with a decent fan base.
27.5/40