STEETON began their new North West Counties Football League campaign with a goalless draw against newly promoted Fulwood Amateurs.
In a drab affair at Marley Stadium, played against the backdrop of the smoke clouds from nearby Dalton Mills, both teams created very few chances in a game that will not live long in the memories of the 112 in attendance.
However, manager Roy Mason took the positives with a point and clean sheet on the board despite missing nine first team regulars through injury, suspension, and unavailability.
With neither team settling into the game during the early exchanges, a series of defensive blocks denied Jake Townsend and Josh Debenham.
In the 11th minute, the visitors were handed a golden opportunity to open their tally as a semi-professional side.
Working their way into the Steeton box, debutant Mbako Chalashika clattered into Owen Watkinson.
The referee was left with no other option but to blow the whistle and point to the spot.
Spencer Lucas, who scored 28 goals last season for the Preston based side, stepped up but saw his tame effort saved by Brad Emmerson in the Chevrons goal.
Chalashika was one of six players on the debut handed their Steeton debuts by Mason, and another, midfielder George Kelly, picked up the afternoon’s first yellow midway through the half after a crunching tackle on his opposite number.
Aidan Kirby, arguably Steeton’s most high-profile summer signing from Campion, had a chance from a dead ball situation.
His free kick from range dipped over the wall but into the relative safety of the opposition keeper’s hands.
On the brink of half-time, a familiar face in the shape of Macca Smith nearly found a way through for the hosts.
Winning a corner on the back of a clearance inside his own area from Osawemwengie Imadiyiosatohanmwen, Smith’s delivery dipped beneath the crossbar and was punched off the line by Jacob Barry in the Amateurs goal.
The visitors began the second half the brighter and squandered two great chances to open the deadlock.
Watkinson and Lucas both found themselves free inside the Chevvies area, but Watkinson could only find the stanchion before Lucas put his effort well wide of the far post.
Steeton’s only real chance of the first half came from a scramble inside the Fulwood penalty area.
Smith again whipped his delivery beneath the crossbar on top of Barry after Debenham’s deflected shot had won the corner.
With bodies and limbs flying throughout the six-yard box, the ball fell to the right of Owen Williamson.
The substitute’s faint touch looked to have enough to get over the line to make an instant impact from the bench, the ball however was cleared off the line by Sam Higham.
Fulwood’s immediate counter was thwarted by Emerson Mitchell, the midfielder putting in an exceptional shift playing out of his regular position at centre half.
Townsend thought he had found the goal with a curling effort from range through a sea of bodies.
Barry, despite seeing the ball late, made an excellent save to tip the strike wide for a corner.
Despite the dullness of the contest overall, there was time for late drama deep into injury time.
Looking for the last gasp winner, Fulwood thought they had found the breakthrough in the 96th minute.
Any celebrations were brought to an abrupt halt as the referee blew his whistle for a foul on Emmerson in the build-up.
Matching their points total after five games last season after just one lays the foundations to build upon ahead of Steeton’s next outing a week Tuesday at home to Ashton Town.
STEETON (Subs): Emmerson; M Smith (Barwick); Lynn; Mitchell; Chalashika; Hoban; Townsend; Kelly (Fleming); Kirby; Debenham (Thornton); Gartland (Williamson). Sub (Not Used): Mampala
