STEETON recorded their first win of the new campaign, a 2-0 home triumph over Ashton Town in an evening filled with controversy.
Putting three points on the board to move themselves up to second in the early league standings, registering a second consecutive clean sheet in the process, the match will be best remembered for a frantic eighteen-minute period at the end.
In truth, bar the Chevrons goals, there had been nothing of note until the 83rd minute when a mass brawl broke out on the touchline.
This lit the touch paper that resulted in five red cards being distributed by the match official as the game descended into chaos.
The opening exchanges were fast and furious with plenty of end-to-end action, flowing football, and plenty for the 125 supporters in attendance to enjoy.
But the first real chance of the contest came shortly before the interval, and the home side opened the evening’s scoring.
Winning a free kick near to the visitor’s box, Lewis Gartland whipped the ball over the wall.
Nearly beating everyone inside the box and finding its way into the goal, Kyle Trennery in the Town goal got down late to make an exceptional save on his line.
However, he could only push the ball into the path of Aidan Kirby.
And Steeton’s marquee summer signing, and new number nine, took full advantage to smash the ball home from two yards out to open his account in green and white.
Forced off through cramp, first goalscorer Kirby’s replacement Josh Coe made an immediate impact in more ways than one.
The first contribution came in the way of assisting the goal that put the result beyond doubt.
Using his size to draw both Ashton centre halves away from goal, he got between them to win the tussle and square on the turn towards the penalty spot.
Macca Smith found himself free and unmarked to coolly pass the ball inside the far post.
Just minutes after the goal that would seal victory for Roy Mason’s side, the red mist descended and the red cards distributed.
After a late challenge on George Kelly, the referee did not award a free-kick, this led to Alfie Walker kicking the Steeton substitute in the head in an attempt to play the ball.
This sparked a confrontation with all players and coaches from both sides involved in the scenes.
The officials, with plenty to ponder and discuss, issued the first of three red cards for this incident to Walker.
His manager Kevin Towey soon followed, being sent back to the dressing rooms for placing Kelly in a headlock, further adding insult to injury for the midfielder.
Coe would be the Steeton playing heading for an early shower after the referee adjudged him to be the home side’s main aggressor.
Two more red cards followed in injury time.
Chevrons winger Gartland, already on a yellow card, was shown a second yellow for delaying a restart as he kicked the ball away following the awarding of a free kick.
Despite both sides’ respective captains being pulled in for a chat, the visitors received their third, the games fifth, and final red card mere seconds later.
An off the ball incident was spotted by the linesman, who alerted the referee.
After a discussion on the halfway line, Dom Cain was sent from the pitch after being adjudged to have grabbed Jacob Smith by the throat and forcing his opposite number to the ground.
The sound of the final whistle came after 12 minutes of injury time, moving the Chevvies to dizzying heights in the league table.
STEETON (Subs): Emmerson; Barnes (Kelly); Williamson; Chalashika; Shaw; Hoban (Lynn); Townsend; Mitchell (J Smith); Kirby (Coe); M Smith; Gartland. Sub (Not Used): Debenham.
GOALS (Assist): Kirby 37’ (Gartland); M Smith 79’ (Coe)
