STOCKSBRIDGE PARK STEELS vs STOCKTON TOWN
COMPETITION: Northern Premier League East Division
DATE: Saturday 23rd December, 2023
KICK-OFF: 3.00pm
ENTRY: £9 Adult, £6 Concession, £3 Under-16, Free Under-12s
GROUND: Bracken Moor Stadium, Bracken Moor Ln, Stocksbridge, Sheffield S36 2AN
LIVE UPDATES: @stockton_townfc
LIVE COMMENTARY:Â Anchors Radio (mixlr.com)
Stockton Town head to South Yorkshire for their final fixture before Christmas.Â
The Anchors went three points clear at the top of the Northern Premier League East Division with a 3-1 win over promotion-hopefuls Hebburn Town.
Stephen Thompson’s opener close to half time set them on their way before Michael Fowler’s second half brace made sure of the victory.
There was a slight blot on the copybook as Amar Purewal scored a consolation for the Hornets.
It was the perfect response to a disappointing midweek showing which saw them dumped out of the Durham Challenge Cup by Whickham.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Stockton and Stocksbridge Park Steels have met six times in all competitions, with the first of those being a goalless draw in Stockton’s first ever game in the Northern Premier League East.
Here are the results from the previous matchups:
12 Aug 2023: Stockton Town 2-2 Stocksbridge Park Steels- Northern Premier League East Division
25 Apr 2023: Stockton Town 2-2 Stocksbridge Park Steels (4-3p)- Northern Premier League East Division Play-Off Semi-Final
8 Apr 2023: Stockton Town 1-0 Stocksbridge Park Steels – Northern Premier League East Division
27 Aug 2022: Stocksbridge Park Steels 1-2 Stockton Town – Northern Premier League East Division
18 Dec 2021: Stockton Town 3-2 Stocksbridge Park Steels – Northern Premier League East Division
14 Aug 2021: Stocksbridge Park Steels 0-0 Stockton Town – Northern Premier League East Division
FORM GUIDE
Stocksbridge Park Steels : D W L L L
Last result: Liversedge 2-2 Stocksbridge Park Steels
Stockton Town: W L W W W
Last result: Stockton Town 3-1 Hebburn Town
THE OPPOSITION
Following last season’s Play-Off defeat to the Anchors, Stocksbridge have endured a difficult start to this campaign and currently sit 17th with 15 points from their first 16 games.
Last time out they battled hard and picked up a point at Liversedge after coming back from a two-goal deficit. Current top scorer Luke Rawson scored both goals to take his tally to 12 for the season. He has already has three more goals than he managed in his debut campaign with the Steels.
It has almost been a month since they last played at Bracken Moor. They picked up their first league home since September when they beat Cleethorpes Town 2-0. September signing Basile Zottos and Charlie Oglesby were on the scoresheet that day.
VIEW FROM THE OPPOSITIONÂ
Focusing on the task at hand, Manager Ian Richards said:
“They’re a top side (Stockton Town) and they are top of the table. They have got strength in depth, strength in resources and a clear way of playing. They are very good footballing side but we have always been competitive against them.
“We will go into the game with no fear and looking for all three points.”
PRE-MATCH QUOTESÂ
Looking ahead to the game, Assistant Manager JD Briggs said:
“We have got to continue to play the same way and do what we do. If they (Stocksbridge) are having a tough season or not we need to keep going with what we want to do.
“We will try to tick that game off, play a simpler way and score as many goals as we can.”
By James Cartwright
