Evo Stik Division One South
Shaw Lane Aquaforce 1-0 Stocksbridge Park Steels
New Shaw Lane midfielder Reece Hands attempts to pull away from Stocksbridge’s Spencer Maw. Picture: whiterosephotos.co.uk
Shaw Lane Aquaforce are going into Saturday’s must-win visit to runaway leaders Stafford Rangers in the best possible frame of mind after Oscar Radford netted a second half winner.
Both Shaw Lane and Stocksbridge needed three points because of their respective battles.
It was a tight affair. Although Stocksbridge were the better side in the first half, Aquaforce striker Gavin Allott wasted a sitter. Home midfielder Steve Istead also missed a great chance. Harrison Biggins came the closest to scoring for the Steels with another ambitious attempt from the halfway line.
The breakthrough came in the 70th minute in-form defender Radford headed home from a corner.
Shaw Lane Aquaforce: Gathercole, Stohrer, O’Brien, Istead, Meynell (captain), Radford, Wafula, Youhill, Hands, Allott, Priestley. Subs: Dempsey, Thornhill, Morgan, Thornton.
Stocksbridge Park Steels (starting line-up): D Reay, Meade, Tootle, Gregory, M Reay, McFadyen (captain), Maw, Biggins, Lumsden, Ruthven, Coleman.