Match Report
Sheffield welcomed Stocksbridge Park Steels to the Bright Finance Stadium. Pete Davey, Jon Boulter, Danny Haystead and Martin Kearney were all unavailable due to injury whilst Manager McCarthy rested Gary Townsend and Darren Holmes. Hat trick hero from the last game Jamie Smith was also given a rest as a sub, alongside Chris Dolby and Matt Roney.
Park Steels brough red shirts to play Sheffield, yes red shirts! Sheffield were forced into allowing Steels to wear their third white kit and the team in them were without Schofied, Vardy and Kennedy, with Riley joining star defender Lovell on the bench.
Club started the game in style, but couldnt find a finish. Siddall in the Stocksbridge goal was having a fine night and saved from Gav Smith, Paul Smith, Jones (twice) and Powell. Copnell also went close on two occasions whilst Holmshaw was largely redundant at the other end,except for one good stop from Ring. Dean Sidebottom also had one header go well wide as the half time closed in.
Sheffield replaced a tired looking Ingall at the break with Dolby and 5 minuteds in gave Paul Smith a rest with Roney coming on.
Fifteen minutes in Copnell made the breakthrough when he ran in on goal and slipped the ball past Siddall to his obvious joy.
Two minutes later a mistake from Siddall let in Powell and he laid the ball back for Winter whose shot was saved by the recovering keeper.
The half was played at a slower pace, for obvious reasons, with Sheffield looking good value for their lead and Powell again went close and Jones headed over.
With 91 minutes on the clock the referee missed a foul with Oldham holding onto Jamie Smith and from the punt forward Rob Ward fouled Mark Ward. With the free kick taken some 3 metres in from the touchline where it happened, the long harmless free kick sailed straight over Sheffield keeper Holmshaw and into the goal with 92 minutes on the clock to make the score 1-1.
Sheffield went up the other hand an an half chance fell to Roney, but petered away to nothing and the game ended 1-1.
The draw guarantees Sheffield an home draw in the play off semi final, a superb achievemnt considering the amount of games the lads have had to play, whilst if Sheffield win against Alsager tomorrow and Nantwich fail to beat Goole then Club will be given home advantage should they also reach the play off final.
SHEFFIELD: HOLMSHAW, G SMITH, P SMITH, LOWTON, WINTER, JONES, HAWES, INGALL, POWELL, COPNELL, WARD SUBS DOLBY, RONEY, J SMITH
MOM JONES
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