Dunston succumbed to a third defeat in four games, going down 5-2 away in South Yorkshire at Stocksbridge Park Steels in what proved to be a tough day for Chris Swailes’ side.

In what was a quiet first half, the hosts took the lead on the break. After Craig Scott was dispossessed in the Stocksbridge half, the hosts drove forward, with the ball finding it’s way toNat Crofts in the centre of the park who drilled home from 25 yards, rifling an unstoppable shot home into the top corner. Dunston had showed plenty of endeavour in the first half to try and forge some chances, however they were lacking a cutting edge and had nothing to show for their efforts going into the break.

At the start of the second half, Stocksbridge had the better of the early phases and were able to double their lead from a corner. An in-swinging cross found Robert Ludlam who headed downwards and in at near post to give the home side some breathing space on 51 minutes. This seemed to rally Dunston, who began to assert themselves more on the game.Terry Galbraith headed just wide from a corner, before Michael Fowler got a goal back, volleying in beautifully from the edge of the box on the spin following good work down the left by Luke Porritt and company.

Despite Fowler handing Dunston a lifeline, the hosts regained their two-goal lead almost immediately. A through ball foundMickey Guest who had broken through a gap in defence andwas adjudged to have beaten the offside trap by the linesman. He bared down on goal and slotted coolly past Liam Connellto give his side a 3-1 lead despite protests from the Dunston backline who felt the scorer was offside. Things got even better for the Steels soon after to give them even more breathing room when Josh Nodder audaciously looped the ball in from 25 yards out on the volley to send the home fans into raptures. To be fair, it was a superb finish and a goal of the season contender no doubt. It almost got even better for the already jubilant hosts, with Liam Connell having to superbly save a Nicky Guest header to keep a fifth out.

Despite the Steel’s controlling the scoresheet, Dunston continued to fight to try and work a way back into the game, and it could be said that they had been the better team bar some avoidable goals and a lack of cutting edge going forward. Phil Turnbull fired just wide after good work in the box to outwit two defenders, and the visitors had a succession of corners but were unable to capitalise from these. 

Dunston were awarded two penalties very late in the day, with Phil Turnbull smashing home the second after Terry Galbraith had hit the left-hand post on the first. Despite this consolationgoal, a mix up at the back from the restart allowed Alex O’Connor to slide the ball into an empty net to round off a bad day at the office for Dunston, who will look to put it right next weekend against Tadcaster Albion.

Match day photography courtesy of Beauty Time Photography

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