Match Report - Stocksbridge Park Steels vs Sheffield FC - Monday 27th December, 2021 (A-A)

  • 27/12/2021

Sheffield FC had their second away game in a row abandoned on Bank Holiday Monday, as proceedings were brought to a halt prematurely in the 75th minute due to fog, with the hosts Stocksbridge Park Steels leading 1-0 at the time.


It was a scrappy affair that was far from deserving of the season high 551 who had braved the conditions, with neither side really producing anything in the way of real quality, with the majority voicing their disapproval of the early ending.


Visibility at Bracken Moor were never that clear from the off, but it was clear enough to play the first half with no concerns, and it was the hosts who set off in the ascendency.


Steels had the early chances, with Luke Mangham seeing his effort cleared off the line by Ashton Hall, with Josh Nodder forcing a save from Club debutant keeper Ryan Musselwhite with a shot from distance.


Sheffield fought their way back into the game, with Scott Ruthven going close with a header, whilst Harry Mitchell hit a drive from 25 yards that forced a save from Ed Hall in the home net.


Stocksbridge opened the scoring on 32 minutes, Sheffield failing to deal with a ball into the box, which eventually sat up nice enough for Luke Mangham to swivel and send the ball beyond Musselwhite.


Just before the interval Club had a chance to draw level, good work on the right saw Ben Turner swing a difficult call into the box, Ruthven got on the end of it only to see Hall deny him with a reflex save.


The home side started the second half on the front foot once again and should have doubled the lead through Jack Tinker’s shot, only to be denied by the ball hitting the upright.


Club were finding it difficult to break down a well organised Stocksbridge back line, with the home side the ones looking most likely to extend their advantage, as Nodder saw his deflected effort land in the arms of Musselwhite and Nat Crofts seeing his solo run end with the ball missing the target by inches.


With the game looking like it would end in disappointment for the visitors, the conditions steadily worsened, and with the clock ticking into the last 15 minutes referee Luke Watson called managers and skippers over to assess the situation.


A 15-minute respite was called, but with conditions not really changing for the better, Mr Watson called a halt and abandoned the game.


The final irony was that moments after that decision was made, the rain started to fall, leaving a bemused crowd leaving a near crystal clear Bracken Moor.


Stocksbridge Park Steels: Edward Hall, Elliott Walker, Jack Tinker, Sam Finlaw, Liam McFadyen ©, Jordan Lemon, Kurtis Turner, Ross Goodwin, Luke Mangham. Josh Nodder. Nathaniel Crofts. Substitutes: Alex O’Connor, Jack Bennet, Josh Millen, Andrew Ring.


Sheffield FC: Ryan Musselwhite. Ben Turner, Rory Coleman, Harry Mitchell, Joshua Burns, Ashton Hall, Luke Hall, James Baxendale, Marc Newsham ©, Scott Ruthven, Nathan Modest. Substitutes: Jordan Walshaw, Jamie Yates, Sam Ackroyd, Jack Birks, Owen Evans.


Referee: Luke Watson


Attendance: 551