Petrol £5 (estimate)
Entry £7
Programme £1-50
Tea x2 £2
Total £15-50
It was way back in October 2008 that I last visited Bracken Moor for a match, so I felt it was high time for a return visit. On a wet and cold day, I was glad to find at least one game on locally. Stocksbridge is about a half an hour drive from us and is one of only a few Step 3/4 non-league clubs around Sheffield.
From what I remembered, Bracken Moor is up a steep hill overlooking the town, not dissimilar to Mossleys Seel Park. I remembered right and after heading up the hill, I managed to nab one of the final parking spaces opposite the ground. The turnstiles are almost carved into an old stone wall on the outside of the ground, and entering brought back fond memories of my first visit here.
This is another 3-sided ground, with one covered terraced end and the impressive Jamie Vardy Stand. I found the latter, with its blue and yellow seats, well sheltered on a day like this.
On the pitch it was the away side Chasetown who saw most of the chances in the first period. 8 shot wide before 10s flicked header went just over and then 11 could only muster a tame volley from the edge of the box. Steels took the lead when their tenacious 10 rifled in a low effort from inside the box. It was a somewhat fortuitous lead but at least they had made the most of their chances.
The second half was box to box stuff. Chasetown started stronger, with 11 forcing a great save and then 9 having his effort tipped around the post. Stocksbridge responded with chances of their own, rattling the cross bar with 8s free kick and 9 firing over after great work by 10 on the right. Then came the killer moment, when 9 rolled in the ball to make it 2-0. Chase town to their credit didn't fold, and poured forward like before. C10 was a real menace on the left, and then 12 and 9 fired over in quick succession. Their final effort - which probably summed up a frustrating afternoon - came when 12 stretched for a low cross but couldn't quite reach it. They had been a little unlucky, but such is life in football some days.
After admiring the distinctive caged 'tunnel' (on steps) to the changing rooms, I headed back to the car. Leicester had beaten Man City earlier, and there was now serious talk on the radio of them winning the league. Could one of Stocksbridge's former players end up with a Premier League medal this year? Stranger things have happened.
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