STEETON recorded back-to-back victories with a dramatic win against Garstang at Marley Stadium.
In a game that was low on quality, Roy Mason’s side topped off a positive week on the back of the previous Saturday’s humiliation with Josh Coe’s last kick off the game seeing them over the line.
And after making it six points in six days, registering their first clean sheet of the season in the process, and moving out of the relegation zone as a result, it gives the Chevrons a platform to build on heading into a busy bank holiday schedule.
Both sides looked to get a foothold in the first half, however with the midfields struggling to keep possession and take hold it proved a scrappy affair.
Half chances were the order of the day with Steeton first seeing a Lewis Gartland effort turned away from goal with the ball being worked back to Harvey Green who saw his effort blocked by a Garstang defender.
At the other end, the visitors did find the back of the net but only after the referee had blown the whistle and pulled play back for a foul in the build-up outside the area.
Steeton had arguably the best chance of the first half, Jacob Smith testing the Garstang keeper from range with a lovely free kick whipped around the defensive wall.
Josh Debenham beat the offside trap before the interval, his volley however dipped over the crossbar and out for a goal kick.
The second half again was devoid of any real quality as both teams looked for a much needed three points, even at this early stage of the new season.
James Catlow continued his recent fine form between the sticks for the home side as he made two superb saves to keep parity.
His first saw the keeper have to reach behind him to tip away a certain goal bound header from Weslie Bajraliu.
Catlow then found himself stretched once more, this time to tip another goal bound effort away from goal moments before Inacio Balde beat the offside trap but dragged his effort wide of the far post.
Needing to find a spark, Mason made four substitutions in the space of ten minutes with two, Coe and Alex Stewart, proving to be the change in which the game needed.
Stewart’s impact was immediate as he added much needed attacking flair for his side, this led to Steeton also creating chances with Stephen Mercer hauling Debenham down with the goal at his mercy.
Moments later, Joel Sargeant made a good low save at his near post to deny Jake Townsend’s effort from range.
The home side then felt they should have had a penalty as Dan Illingworth was hauled down inside the area from an Arley Barnes delivery, the officials however showed no interest in awarding the foul.
With the game fizzling out towards a goalless draw, injury time brought a large dose of ecstasy and drama to those involved with the home side as Steeton found the only goal of the afternoon.
Desperately pushing forward, the ball was shifted wide to the left channel.
Alex Stewart drove and found a way past the Garstang right-back.
Now with space on the edge of the area, the winger fed a peach of a delivery across the face of the ball and Coe made no mistake from five yards out as he tapped the ball home into the back of the net.
Sparking scenes of jubilation amongst players and fans alike, it proved the last action of the afternoon with only enough time left for the kick-off.
STEETON (Subs): Catlow; Barnes; Gibbon; Kirkpatrick; Illingworth; Mitchell (Hancock); Green; J Smith; Debenham (Coe); Lynn (Townsend); Gartland (A Stewart). Sub (Not Used): Hartley.
GOAL (Assist): Coe 90+3’ (A Stewart)
