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Sheffield FC go into this local rivalry looking for all three points, as it would make safety so much easier to accomplish, with what is sure to be a hard game away against Pontefract on the final day of the season. 

A win would leave Club with a fantastic chance at survival, but Stocksbridge, for whom this was the final game of the season, stood in the way. 

The game started slowly, with little being created by either side early on and neither keeper being troubled. With Stocksbridge left with nothing to play for other than bragging rights, you would have thought that they may come out flying, but that was not the case. 

It was just 25 minutes in that the first chance fell, and Stocksbridge striker Josh Nodder found himself around 20 yards from goal on the volley, and in true hit and hope fashion the ball bobbled over Ryan Musselwhite in the home sides net, to put the visitors 1-0 up. 

The rest of the first half was cagey, with neither side creating any proper chances and neither side finding any freedom in the middle of the park. 

The second half however started quickly, with Nathan Modest being brought down inside the area just 8 minutes after the restart.

Top scorer Marc Newsham stepped up to take the resulting penalty, and slotted calmly into the bottom left to restore the parity of the game. 

Only 5 minutes after, Sheffield looked to capitalise on their dominance and grab another, but Stocksbridge keeper Michael Roxburgh went down clutching his face in what looked like a fair challenge, and the referee called the game back. 

Sheffield FC then pressed for a second, but couldn’t find the chance to double their tally for the day. The second half then slowed down to a similar pace as the first half, with little going for either side.

Approaching added time, Sam Greenhouse, who started at right back and finished the game at right wing, got forward and found himself on the end of a Rory Coleman cross, but his improvised shot couldn’t find the target. 

Club pushed for a winner late into the game, and as the entire defence pushed forward, Jamie Robinson found himself on the edge of the box with the ball dropping just in front of him, but his volley couldn’t trouble the keeper and the game finished level.

The result leaves the oldest football club in the world sat in 17th going into the final game of the season, which would see a relegation play-off at the home of football if the table stays the same. 

We now go into the weekend relying on the teams around us, although a win on the final day would make the task a lot easier! 

Final score: Sheffield FC 1-1 Stocksbridge Park Steels.

Teams: 

Sheffield FC:

Ryan Musselwhite, Sam Greenhouse, Ben Turner, Jack Birks, Jamie Robinson, Damian Magee, Nathan Modest, James Baxendale, Marc Newsham (c), Leigh Whelan, Manny Kianga. 

Subs: Rory Coleman, Luke Rawson, Scott Ruthven, AJ Adelekan, Sam Ackroyd.

Stocksbridge Park Steels:

Michael Roxburgh, Jordan Lemon, Jack Tinker, Sam Finlaw, Lee Cooksey, Reece Fielding, Kurtis Turner, Ross Goodwin, Luke Mangham, Josh Nodder, Ben Partridge. 

Subs: Michael Trench, Nat Crofts, Alex O’Connor, Nick Guest, Andy Ring.

Words by Sam Hutchison