There's late misery for Leek in home clash, while Kidsgrove net the spoils from Castle encounter

A VERY late winner condemned LEEK TOWN to a 2-1 home defeat by Stocksbridge Park Steels to leave them only clear of the relegation zone in the top division of the Northern Premier League on goal difference.

- Phil Sherwin

BEATEN: Leek town lost out 2-1 at home to Stocksbridge Park Steels in their Northern Premier League clash. Pictures: Jim Booth

(Jim Booth)

Kurtis Turner fired over the bar for Stocksbridge early on and they took a 16th-minute lead.

Jack Tinker found Luke Rawson on the edge of the box and although his shot was parried by debutant keeper Josh Ollerenshaw, it was Tinker who stroked the rebound into the net.

The Blues were almost level soon afterwards when Tom Curl headed an Alex Hurst cross against the crossbar.

Ollerenshaw then saved well from James Morris but Leek were much better in the second half.

They equalised in the 48th minute when a short corner was cleared to the edge of the box where Ollie Shenton lashed a shot into the roof of the net.

Shenton was then denied by a double save from Ben Townsend and Carl Dickinson had a shot deflected wide as Leek sought a winner.

Morris had a shot pushed on to the post at the other end though and the visitors went on to snatch a last-minute winner.

A free-kick on the left was knocked back into the centre which was laid off for Turner to find the net with a low shot from the edge of the box to condemn Leek to a fourth successive defeat.

In the West Division,

KIDSGROVE ATHLETIC won the local derby against NEWCASTLE TOWN 3-1 at the Fitzjohn Stadium.

Castle opened the scoring in the 10th minute when a cross from the left fell to Ethan Vale just outside the penalty area and he fired a shot past Ryan Brown.

Grove levelled in the 31st minute. A long ball downfield was flicked on by Josh Thorpe and Natty Stewart slammed it past Joe Slinn just four minutes after coming on as a substitute.

Stewart and Travis Capey both had shots saved as Kidsgrove went on the front foot and they went in front in the 70th minute.