Local Sport
6th September 2018
Issue 1025
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Seconds escape relegation as firsts end season in entertaining fashion
Local Sport ERNEST THORPE Halifax Road, Thurgoland 0114 2882152
MOT’s £35.00 Chris Thwaites ended Richmond’s challenge. WITH Stocksbridge CC’s first XI sat comfortably in mid table and well clear of relegation, they travelled to Sheffield Centralians for what was a dead rubber. Captain Pete Broomhead won the toss and elected to bat in the sunshine. The Stocksbridge innings didn’t get off to a good start as the in form Matt Price was bowled first ball of the game. Captain Broomhead dug in well on what was a lively wicket before being caught at mid on. Chris Pickford and Jack Newton put on excellent partnership before Newton
was dismissed for 34. Pickford continued his excellent innings bringing up his 50 in style by hitting three sixes in a over, Pickford was finally dismissed in his 60s as he looked to up the run rate. The lower order scratched around as Stocksbridge posted 166-9 from 46 overs. As this was the final game, the first XI made some changes in the field as opening bowler Joe Hibbert took up a new role as wicketkeeper. The bowling was rotated throughout as all 11 Stocksbridge players bowled.
There was some interesting bowling however Jack Lyons and Steve Perry formed an excellent bowling partnership picking up the opening two wickets. Jack Newton got the third wicket however Centralians reached the target with seven wickets in hand. Stocksbridge CC second team finished the season with a home game against Richmond CC first team and needed to win to have a chance of staying in YDCL Division Three.
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Stocksbridge batted first and got off to a great start with Jack Murfin scoring a rapid 62 including a huge six that landed in the car park from the top wicket. A partnership of 100 between Bob Newton 46 and captain Chris Ogley 73 took Stocksbridge to 195-3 and a late order cameo from Tom Dobson 25 took the home team to there biggest total of the season 289-8. Richmond CC first team reply was ripped wide open by an incredible spell of bowling from paceman Chris Thwaites who took five wickets in his first four overs for no runs and the scoreboard read 0-5. Two run outs, a wicket from
Jim Tomlinson and two more wickets from Chris Thwaites, who finished with season best figures of 7-16, ended Richmond’s innings on 105 all out after a fifty from their captain gained a little respectability. With Hathersage CC second team losing, this result put Stocksbridge above them and De la Salle and to safety after a great effort of winning three out of last five games. So after promotion last season it was good for the second team to end on a high and plan for further progress next season.
AWAY DAY BLUES FOR PARK STEELS Lincoln United 2-1 Stocksbridge PS By Dave Rhodes It was back on the road again for Steels as they travelled to top six side Lincoln United. Steels will be confident of gathering a positive result after the squad has showed good improvement and momentum of late. Glorious September sun welcomed the players onto the pitch. For the third game in a row Steels conceded a goal early in the game when a flat back four was caught out by a simple long ball, Todd Jordan was caught cold down the left side channel, out muscled by the impressive Kevin Hermigou the Lincoln centre forward. Hermigou scuffed a tame right footed effort from just inside the box which crept underneath the diving Greaves. 1-0 down after three minutes and again Steels were up against it. The pitch was disappointingly hard, sparse and bobbly and this made for mistakes and control issues.
Hermigou was a real handful for the Steels back four but Jordan was determined to redeem himself and did so on numerous occasions as long balls were knocked forward, dealing with them expertly. The young Steels side rallied with terrific spirit, good passing and offensive movement, despite the poor surface, but couldn’t break down an efficient and experienced Lincoln unit. On 25 minutes Coleman replaced the injured Mangham. A Rhodes snap shot from 18 yards was hit straight at Emery the home goalkeeper who saved comfortably, Ruthven and Moxam went close with shots on the turn but frustratingly, defenders blocked their efforts. On 44 minutes a rare venture forward from the home side caused panic in the away penalty box as both Turner and Jordan got in the way with last ditch defending.
As the second half got underway, again Steels were caught cold early, when a whipped in left wing cross was met by Norris on 52 minutes six yards out, but although connecting with the ball well crashed his header onto the bar when it was easier to score. A let off for Steels.
The game headed into the last five minutes with a draw looking to be the best outcome but Steels tried to get the winner and continued to pile men forward, on 85 minutes Lincoln showed that they were not finished and picked off tired legs in the Steels 18 yard box.
On 60 minutes Steels were deservedly back on level terms. Brad Beatson was both impressive and influential down the left and didn’t put a foot wrong all game really. His cross was turned for a corner as Steels pressed forward. The corner taken by Coleman wasn’t cleared and McFadyen was on hand to flick the ball home from close range after a Wiles low shot.
Smith, the Lincoln number two, danced into the box going past two defenders down the right, he made a meal of slight contact from a steels defender and dived sideways - penalty given. It was converted to make it 2-1 and Lincoln saw out the game with solid defending and clearances as Park Steels hit long balls into the box.
Emery, the home goalkeeper, was certainly the busier of the two and saved well from Ruthven twice and Moxam at the near post. With the bit between their teeth Park Steels searched and probed for the second goal only to be thwarted by Emery.
Michael Emery the home goalkeeper had a good day and was named man of the match. Steels can take plenty of positives from the game, but they need to tighten up defensively and keep working hard collectively. Next up its Carlton Town on Tuesday September 11.
