Grove made the difficult journey to their opening day conquers Stocksbridge Park Steels with Lee Williamson returning to the midfield. Sickness to Anthony Malbon and the recall of Ben Hart by Burton meant manager Ryan Austin had to shuffle the pack a little. Rhys Thompson reverted to right back with Kingsley Adu Gyamfi starting in place of Malbon. Sam Hall skippered the team Malbon's absence.

Grove started the game in a positive manner with Adu Gyamfi making an early run at the Stocksbridge left-back following a quick free-kick from Williamson.
Grove then had to endure 3 corners in succession finally clearing at the third attempt, surviving loud penalty appeals from the Stocksbridge players along the way.

Lundstrum had a great chance to put Grove in front latching onto a Wiggins Thomas through ball, his half blocked shot running through to the on loan Stocksbridge keeper.

The opening goal wasn't to be long in waiting for, Gyamfi again running at the Stocksbridge left side before being clumsily bundled over in the box for a penalty. Despite the protests and a slight delay, up stepped Wiggins Thomas to cooly send the keeper the wrong way.

Blake had a half chance to double the lead kneeling the ball wide. However, goal number 2 wasn't long in coming, the in form Wiggins Thomas finding the bottom corner wrong-footing the keeper in the process.

The Steels looking for an immediate response fired over before a scrappy 5 minutes lead to a caution for Gyamfi for an innocuous foul, while at the other end a Stocksbridge player was cautioned for diving.

Normal service was resumed by Lundstrum just before half time with a cool finish.

Half time
Steels 0 Grove 3
The second half had a lot to live up to but for the spectators, it was met with a professional rather than spectacular performance from Grove. Stocksbridge registering only 2 attempts of any note at the Grove goal, largely untroubling Harrison.

The Steels were reduced to 10 men following an awful challenge by Witham on Williamson. With Williamson unable to continue Tom France was bought into the fray for more valuable minutes, on this evidence he certainly hasn't lost any of his paces, with a couple of probing runs at the Steels left back.

Grove saw the game out to return home with a valuable 3 points.

Steels 0 Grove 3