Goals after the break from Silas Valladolid-Collins, Matt Crookes and Lewis Whitaker were enough to complete the turnaround after the Steelmen had trailed at half-time.

The hosts started the game the brighter of the two sides, and created a number of promising opportunities in the opening 15 minutes. First, after finding space down the right, a Bolsover forward pulled the trigger from just outside of the box, only to see his effort fly narrowly over the bar.

Not long after this, and the reflexes of Parkgate ‘keeper Chris Butt were put to the test. A cross was whipped into the box from the right and headed towards goal, however, Butt was more than a match, tipping the ball onto the crossbar before it was cleared to safety.

Eventually, Bolsover made their dominance count, and in the 24th minute the deadlock was broken. When a corner was invitingly swung in from the right, the ball was met in the air by Bolsover’s Lewis Warwick, who duly nodded home at the far post to keep the home side’s dreams of a great escape alive.

Following the hosts’ opener, the Steelmen soon started to find their feet in the game, and began to create space both in and around the Bolsover defence. A number of chances were fashioned as a result of this, with both Simon Harrison and Bruno Holden fizzing efforts from distance just wide of the target.

Despite this, however, it was Bolsover who could, and probably should, have doubled their lead just before the interval. Following some determined build-up play, the ball was tantalisingly teed up for a Bolsover forward to fire a shot on goal, but the best he could manage was right of the post and wide.

Half-time: FC Bolsover 2-3 Parkgate

Following the interval, it was blatantly clear that the Steelmen had come out a much-improved side, with the Bolsover defence under pressure from the get-go. Just moments in, and some great work down the wing allowed Bruno Holden room to fire the ball across the box. Lewis Whitham, however, could only place his subsequent effort high over the bar.

The signs were looking positive for Parkgate though, and soon enough, the breakthrough arrived. A defensive mix-up from Bolsover saw Silas Valladolid-Collins through on goal, and the young forward made no mistake, slotting the ball home from close range to bring the Steelmen level, much to the delight of the following contingent.

Parkgate were clearly buoyed by the equaliser, and continued to press, creating a number of good opportunities to score before the second goal eventually arrived in the 66th minute. After some determined work by Lewis Whitham on the right, a goalmouth scramble ensued in the box, with multiple Parkgate players taking stabs at the ball in an attempt to score. In the end, it proved to be Matt Crookes who slammed the ball home to hand the Steelmen the lead.

Andy Dawson’s side weren’t done just yet though, and the lead was doubled in the 75th minute by the returning Lewis Whitaker. This time around, the ball was pulled back to the Parkgate forward, who kept his composure to effortlessly slot the ball into the bottom corner of the Bolsover goal.

The positives kept on coming for Parkgate, and when George Morris came on to replace Alex Pugh in the latter stages of the game, it ensured that the Steelmen would finish the match with four youth team prospects on the pitch. Included in the four were man-of-the-match Ashley Simpson, Lewis Whitham, Silas Valladolid-Collins, and Morris alike, suggesting the future is bright for Parkgate.

The home side did manage to secure a consolation goal in additional time when a handball in the box gifted Bolsover’s top goalscorer, Jack Warwick, the chance to score from the penalty spot. The forward duly obliged, slotting the ball just out of reach of Chris Butt in the Parkgate goal, and giving the home side hope of an unlikely equaliser to keep their survival hopes alive.

Such an equaliser was not forthcoming, however, and the Steelmen saw out the final few minutes to secure three valuable points and relegate bottom-of-the-table FC Bolsover in the process.

Full-time: FC Bolsover 2-3 Parkgate

Parkgate: Chris Butt, Ben Starosta(C), Ashley Simpson, Matt Crookes, Haydn Ward, Alex Pugh (George Morris), Lewis Whitaker, Simon Harrison (Bradley Davies), Bruno Holden, Brandon Bagley (Silas Valladolid-Collins), Lewis Whitham.
Unused Subs: N/A