Non-league weekend preview: Stocksbridge Park Steels hoping to finally return to match action after successive postponements

Stocksbridge Park Steels will be hoping to finally return to action this weekend when they welcome the division's bottom club Newcastle Town to Bracken Moor.
Stocksbridge goalkeeper Ed Hall (left) faces a spell on the sidelines.Stocksbridge goalkeeper Ed Hall (left) faces a spell on the sidelines.
Stocksbridge goalkeeper Ed Hall (left) faces a spell on the sidelines.

Steels have seen their last three matches postponed due to the recent inclement weather.

And Steels boss Chris Hilton admits it has been a frustrating time.

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“We wanted to build some momentum on the back of the great result we had at Ilkeston last month, but we’ve lost that now," he said.

"You train in the week work on a game plan with the players, only for the game to get called off. It's very frustrating but there’s nothing you can do about it.

“The players just want to get back out onto the pitch. We just have to make sure we prepare them as best as we can because you can train as much as you like but nothing can replace playing games and keeping your match fitness sharp. “

Newcastle arrive propping up the rest of the table with just two wins from 15 outings, both of which have come away from home.

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Stocksbridge, seventh in the table, won 3-1 in reverse fixture back in September.

“They’re not a bad side to be honest,” Hilton added.

“I thought when we played them earlier in the season their midfield was quite good and they worked very hard to try and contain us. We’ll be favourites to take all three points of course, but we have to make sure our attitude is right because they will certainly be no pushovers.”

Hilton as suffered a blow with goalkeeper Ed Hall’s knee injury worse than first feared. He is expected to miss at least three months.

There was some good news for Hilton, with striker Danny Frost back in full training and available after a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

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Nenad Smillanic is also back in full training and could be back in the squad against Newcastle, while Ross Goodwin is hoping to return in the next few weeks.

Sheffield FC travel to Kidsgrove Athletic looking for the win that could see them climb into the play-off places.

Club currently sit eighth in the table but are just two points outside the top five.

In the NCEL, Handsworth make the short trip to face Premier Division leaders Penistone Church.

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The Ambers travel in good form having won three of the last four league outings as Russ Eagle’s side look to push on towards the top half of the table.

Hallam face a local derby at Dronfield Town where will be hoping to get their promotion push back on track and put behind them the shock 2-0 Senior Cup midweek exit at the hands of Swinton Athletic.