On Saturday 8th February 2020 Stocksbridge Park Steels were the visitors to Greenfields looking to consolidate their position in the League Play Off positions.

MDTFC Manager Dan Stevens kept faith with the majority of the team that gave an excellent performance the previous weekend at Lincoln United.

There were two changes in fact to the line up, with the return of Ash Rawlins in goal and the inclusion of Ibrahima Doucoure on loan from Stoke City.

We would like to say a huge thank you to Goalkeeper Sam Agius who joined us on loan during Ash's absence. A member of the Shrewsbury Town Academy Team, Sam has been outstanding and is a fantastic prospect - keep your eye on this very talented young man

MDTFC started the game very strongly putting the Steels defence under constant pressure; the rest of the game then became a midfield battle aided by strong defending by both teams.

Early in the game Ibrahima Doucoure had a powerful strike that clipped a Steels defender and went inches wide of the post.

An outstanding double save by Ash Rawlins was then required to keep MDTFC in the game.

It then required a first class save by the Steels keeper Jacob Carney to prevent Ibrahima Doucoure from scoring.

MDTFC on the first half play should have gone into the break with at least a 1-0 lead.

Half Time: MDTFC 0 Stocksbridge Park Steels 0

On 54 minutes we conceded a corner on the right flank and from the resultant corner Steels took the lead through Scott Ruthven.

Manager Dan Stevens rang the changes in the second half, but we could not break the deadlock; although James Tindall-Bennett went very close with an overhead kick late in the game.

It was a game that we thoroughly deserved at least a point; we just lacked that cutting edge in front of goal

Full Time: MDTFC 0 Stocksbridge Park Steels 1

The positives from the last two games is that we have stopped leaking goals like water from a bucket full of holes.

It has to be said that MDTFC Manager Dan Stevens has done an outstanding job in rebuilding a very young squad from virtually scratch; with only Ash Rawlins and James Tindall- Bennett in the team from last seasons squad.

Team Line Up:

Ash Rawlins
Tom Nixon
Calum Bennett
Jamie Hands (66 ChristopheAziamale)
Conor Hughes
Henry Nash
James Tindall-Bennett
Lucas Green-Birch
Josh Thomas (73 Callum Graybrook)
Ibrahima Doucoure (82 Ethan Stanton(
Connor Russo (Captain)

With Wisbech and Chasetown both losing their respective games and Newcastle without a game, it is very much as you were at the wrong end of the League Table.

We go again on Saturday 15th February, when we are at 'Home' to Ilkeston.

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