If they did not realise it beforehand, Leek Town can now well and truly consider themselves part of the relegation dogfight in the lower reaches of the Northern Premier League after a late late defeat at home to league newcomers Stocksbridge Park Steels.

An anaemic first half performance saw the Blues go into the break one nil down before a transformed side saw them draw level at the beginning of the second half and create enough chances to win the game only to then receive the proverbial kick in the teeth and lose it in added on time.

After the heavy loss at Rushall the previous week Leek manager Josh Brehaut made changes in midfield and at the back. With Dino Visser still out injured Josh Ollerenshaw became the fourth goalkeeper to be used by the Blues this season making his debut between the sticks whilst there was a start for Carl Dickinson in the centre of defence with Tom Curl moving to right back and Liam Buckley dropping down to the bench as Leek switched to a back four. Lucas Weir returned in midfield at the expense of Callum Leigh.

Despite a healthy Boxing Day crowd of 656 the game started in a quiet subdued atmosphere and the scrappy insipid play for the majority of the first half did nothing to lift the crowd volume.

Stocksbridge looked the brighter of the two teams and forced a couple of early corners before Kurtis Turner had the first effort of the match on 10mins driving a righter footer a yard or so over Ollerenshaws crossbar.

Dickinson produced an important block from another attempt from Turner before the visitors took the lead in the 17th minute. Ollie Shenton was dispossessed by Jack Tinker after turning into his man and Tinker easily held off the challenge from Weir as he burst forward and found striker Luke Rawson on the edge of the area. No one was tight enough on Rawson who had time to get his shot away across Ollerenshaw and towards the bottom corner. The Blues goalkeeper was able to get down to the effort but only succeeded in pushing it into the path of Tinker, who had continued his run into the area untracked, and the Steels man had the simplest of tasks to put it into the unguarded net. A poor goal to concede from a Leek perspective.

The Blues nearly hit back straightaway. In the first attack from the restart Alex Hurst was found over on the left flank and he took on his man before delivering a cross deep to the far post where Curl had advanced from his full back position to climb above his man and send a header goalwards that smacked against the crossbar before being cleared

That chance aside, however, the Blues first half performance was turning into a repeat of the Rushall game as Stocksbridge continued to be the more likely side to get the next goal which nearly arrived with James Morris’ shot that Ollerenshaw did well to save low to his left to ensure his side went into the break only one down.

LEEK TOWN 0 - STOCKSBRIDGE PARK STEELS 1 HT

If Stocksbridge were the better side of the first half Leek were clearly the dominant side of the second half, looking a completely different team in their energy, aggressiveness and passing game, no doubt as a result of some harsh words by Brehaut.

They had the ideal start, equalising after 48mins. A corner was taken short and although the eventual delivery was cleared to the edge of the area it fell onto the favoured left foot of Shenton who’s sweet hit took a slight deflection as it flew high into the net.

It gave Leek the lift they needed and, combined with the substitution of the ineffective Tunde Owolabi with Hayden Campbell after 52mins, they pushed on looking for the go ahead goal threatening to swamp the Steels in the process.

There was a loud appeal for a penalty when Weir went down just inside the area after he just beat a Steels defender to the ball but the referee deemed it a dive and booked the Leek player for simulation before the Blues should have gone ahead on 55mins.

Campbell and Hurst combined down the left before Hurst beat his man to deliver a cross that found Shenton unmarked coming in at the far post. His close range header however was straight at goalkeeper Ben Townsend who somehow managed to parry it but only up in the air for Shenton to have another free header only for Shenton to direct it straight at Townsend again for a double save.

Two minutes later and Leek came close again with a move involving first time passing between Shenton and Campbell, with the latter flicking the ball into the path of Connor Heath running into the area but his first time side footed effort was wide.

Leek came forward again with the marauding Curl playing more like a winger than full back, winning a free kick that was wasted as it was driven into the wall. Townsend did well to fall on and collect Hursts dangerous low cross before Weir headed another cross wide and then Dickinson saw his effort deflected for a corner as Leek turned the screw.

It looked like there could only be one winner with the visitors being hard pressed and defending desperately but on 79mins they provided a reminder they could still pose a threat as they broke out and nearly regained the lead when a scramble in the Leek area resulted in Ollerenshaw pushing an effort onto the post.

Undeterred, Leek advanced again and another Hurst driven cross could have gone anywhere but the run of the ball favoured Stocksbridge who scrambled it clear whilst Heath should have done better with a free kick just outside the area but failed to keep his effort from sailing over the bar.

The 90th minute saw another great chance for the Blues as the Steels failed to deal with yet another cross into the area and the ball came out to the penalty spot where Campbell and substitute Adam Porter were waiting. Porter probably had the clearer opportunity running onto the ball but Campbell was nearer to it and spun to hit it himself only to find the legs of a sprawling defender.

Campbell then had a further chance but headed straight at Townsend before Stocksbridge snatched the win two minutes into stoppage time when they managed to work an opening for Turner who made no mistake with a low effort into the bottom corner of the net.

Even then Leek created two opportunities in the remaining time added on to earn a draw that they would have deserved based on their second half showing. Another Hurst cross was only half cleared to Porter but his volleyed effort flew just over whilst, with the last kick of the game, Shentons effort whistled just past the post with Townsend beaten.

LEEK TOWN 1 - STOCKSBRIDGE PARK STEELS 2 FT

MATCH REPORT BY WINNERS LAD

So a disappointing end to 2025 for the Blues as they now prepare to play Warrington Town on New Years Day - we are back at home on Saturday 10 January 2026 for the visit of FC United of Manchester.

You can get your tickets HERE ON FANBASE

Match Photogallery courtesy of Jim Booth HERE