Steels drop into bottom two after thumping

Photo: Ian Revitt Report: Owen Harrison

Belper Town 4-1 Stocksbridge Park Steels

BELPER Town inflicted a heavy defeat on a Stocksbridge side who slipped into the relegation zone of the Evo-Stik East Division after the Steels were hammered by the Nailers 4-1 at The Silver X stadium.

In the fourth minute, Stocksbridge pressure resulted in a goal for the league strugglers after Steels’ number nine Scott Ruthven fired in his shot from the right hand side of the box into the bottom left corner, beating the talented Belper Town goalkeeper Sebastian Malkowski.

Just before the break, Alfred Thompson fired in a brilliant ball into the box which was nodded in by Belper skipper Danny South. This was as a result of a counter attack after a Steels corner was cleared quickly and the hosts instantly went on the breakaway leading to Danny South striking his seventh goal of the season on the stroke of half time.

In the second period, Craig Nelthorpe fired a beautiful cross into Derry Robson who nodded home into the bottom left corner to the cheers of the jubilant home supporters as he made it 2-1.

Almost instantly after the goal, George Milner and Rory Coleman got into a bust up, eventually being separated by fellow team-mates and after referee Mark Tinsley consulted James McNee, he booked them both. Unfortunately for Rory Coleman, this was his second booking of the game and he was sent for an early shower.

Then the devastating blow came for the visiting Steels. Derry Robson fired in an inch perfect cross into the path of George Milner who nodded home into the bottom left corner to seal the game and bag his ninth goal of the season on his 21st birthday.

A few minutes after and the embarrassment extended for Stocksbridge. Danny South bagged his second goal of the game after a cross from substitute Liam Owen. Stocksbridge are back on home soil in their next outing against another in form team Cleethorpes Town who defeated the Steels 6-2 in the reverse meeting earlier this campaign.