Late goal saves Steels against nine men; Sheffield FC beaten

Boss Chris Hilton had promised an entertaining game as Steels went all out for a fourth successive win to keep their faint play-off hopes alive. And those that came along to take advantage of the '˜pay what you like' offer certainly got good value for money as they watched Stocksbridge twice come from behind then throw away a 3-2 lead against nine-men Romulus before rescuing a point in the last minute of time added on.Steels fell behind in the fourth minute. David Reay had already done well to push a free-kick over but from the resulting corner Ben Welsh's volley was deemed to had crossed the line by the assistant after bouncing down off the underside of the bar.Stocksbridge equalised in the ninth minute, Joe Lumsden unleashing an unstoppable shot from 22-yards after a cross had been half. The visitors were back in front three minutes later when Barry Fitzharris' shot took a wicked deflection to wrong foot Reay. Back came Steels to equaliser on 23 minutes as Rory Coleman's delightful cross left Scott Ruthven with an easy header. Stocksbridge went in front for the first time just past the half hour. Lumsden's cross to the far post picked out Coleman who took a touch before thumping a shot back across the keeper and inside the far post.Five minutes into the second half the visitors were reduced to ten-men, Chad Degville-Cross receiving a second yellow card and 10 minutes later it was nine men as Fitzharris was shown a straight red for kicking out at Coleman.Instead of taking advantage of the numerical advantage Stocksbridge seemed to lose their way and with 14 minutes remaining Romulus grabbed the equaliser when Luke Keen's cross from close to the bye-line dropped inside the far post. Romulus went 4-3 up in the second minute of stoppage time as Malachi Farguharson scrambled the ball home. But Stocksbridge blushes were saved in the last of four minutes of time added on when Liam McFadyen bundled the ball home at the far post to level the scores.Sheffield FC suffered a third successive defeat,
Stocksbridge's Liam McFadyen puts a cross over the bar on the stretch but went on to grab stoppage time equaliser. Photo: Gillian HandisidesStocksbridge's Liam McFadyen puts a cross over the bar on the stretch but went on to grab stoppage time equaliser. Photo: Gillian Handisides
Stocksbridge's Liam McFadyen puts a cross over the bar on the stretch but went on to grab stoppage time equaliser. Photo: Gillian Handisides