Ben Hutchinson scored direct from a corner as Carlton Town came from behind to earn a draw against Stocksbridge Park Steels, writes Alan Murphy
Hutchinson’s goal came after the visitors had taken the lead inside 30 seconds through Joe Lumsden.
A draw was a fair result on the night with Steels looking the better side in the opening 45 minutes but Carlton were much more threatening after the break.
Manager Wayne Scott made three changes from the side which lost at Dunkirk last time out. In came the returning Brandon Mutibvu and Louis Danquah along with debutant Kane Baldwin, one of the clutch of recent loan signings from Mansfield Town. They replaced the suspended Riece Bertram plus Niall Davie and Eddie Schoenecker.
Steels got off to a flying start and were ahead on 28 seconds. Lumsden advanced on goal and fired past Jack Steggles.
The visitors should have doubled their lead six minutes later when Brodie Litchfield cut inside the area to give himself an excellent chance, but he fired high over the bar.
The Millers equalised in unusual circumstances on 17 minutes. Mamoke Akaunu drove forward and earned a corner. Hutchinson came to take it, saw a gap at the near post and curled his flag kick straight into the net despite the belated efforts of Tom Charlesworth and goalkeeper Jordan Greaves to keep it out.
It was Steels who maintained the upper hand though and a Scott Ruthven volley was cleared off the line as the Carlton defence just about held firm.
Rory Coleman then fired in a dangerous free kick which was also well cleared while at the other end Hutchinson hit a lovely free kick inches wide with Greaves well-beaten.
Steggles then did well to hold onto another close range effort from Litchfield as Steels sought to reignite their play-off challenge.
Carlton’s best move of the half saw Mutibvu play a lovely ball through to Kaylum Mitchell. His shot fell to Akaunu whose own shot was deflected wide for a corner.
The Millers looked far more of an attacking threat in the second half. Akaunu ran directly at the Steels defence and his dangerous cross was cleared.
It was Steels who went closest to scoring next however. Litchfield’s fine run and cross down the right was only half cleared and when the ball fell to Ruthven his excellent 25-yard drive crashed against the post and flew to safety.
The Millers responded and a delightful passing move saw Mitchell sprung clear of the Steels defence. As he advanced on goal he elected to turn the ball onto his left foot and his shot was well-saved by Greaves.
Scott brought on another Mansfield loanee, Tyler Blake, and he looked a dangerous threat to Steels for the remainder of the game.
Steggles made a comfortable save from a Lumsden header before Mitchell and Akaunu ran clear on a two-on-two break. Mitchell delayed his pass too long and the chance was lost.
Blake then advanced to the left bye-line, put over a lovely cross into the area which Akaunu just failed to connect with in front of a gaping goal.
At the back, Carlton looked strong defensively, with Daniel Fletcher and Kieran Walker commanding at centre-half in particular. Going forward, the Millers were forcing Steels back but were perhaps guilty of over-playing instead of shooting and Ruthven almost made them pay, firing just wide from the edge of the box.
Carlton had a series of corners which came to nothing and it was Steels who had the final chance, with Lumsden shooting wide at the near post in added time.
