Lincoln United 0-0 Steels

Stocksbridge Park Steels were unable to break through a stern Lincoln United defence as they drew 0-0 with the relegation strugglers.

There was a lively start to the game. Stocksbridge got off quickly but it was Lincoln who stopped the initial rush and had the better of the first ten minutes. They got some early set pieces and one caused danger with Callum Foster heading it goalwards, but it was flicked over the bar, seemingly by another Lincoln player in a big turn of luck for the Steels.

A big chance then went Stocksbridge’s way. Ben Partridge worked hard to get space on the right hand side, latching onto a good pass. Instead of shooting himself, he squared the ball to Nathaniel Crofts. The winger unfortunately hit the shot wide, though a flagging linesman did save his blushes.

The big opportunities fell to Josh Nodder in the first half. A high ball came across to him and the winger followed the ball well to hit a volley that was as sweet as you like. It travelled well but Jack Steggles followed it well and made an impressive save to keep his clean sheet in tact. Not long after, Nodder had another opportunity after Crofts cut it back to him but that effort was drilled wide. This meant the game would be goalless going into the second half.

After Nodder had his opportunities at the end of the first half, the second half would start with Jake Park trying to have an impact for Lincoln. He first went clear on goal but thankfully the effort would head harmlessly over. A few minutes later, a cheeky backheel from Park put the ball teasingly across the six yard box but no other Lincoln player was there to tap it in. At the other end, Nodder had another effort which would go just wide.

The closest Stocksbridge would go would be through Crofts. After the ball struggled to get past the Lincoln backline but the Whites failed to clear, the ball would eventually fall to the winger on the left. He cut in before hitting a daisy cutter of shot that went through everyone and would bang off the post before the Whites were able to clear it away.

The game would end with a bit of drama. Lincoln had the better of the end of the game, notably when Louie Jarvis broke through on the right hand side before a poor finish which showed why he was a right back and not a striker, and were looking to score when Park fell on the edge of the box. Lincoln appealed for the penalty but nothing was given and that’d be the end of the game with both teams having to be happy with a point.