STEETON saw their winless streak extend to ten games with defeat to title chasing Nelson.
Now over two months without a victory, the Chevrons left themselves too much of a mountain to climb late on in a performance described as “chalk and cheese” from the 7-0 embarrassment at the hands of Maghull three days earlier.
However, Roy Mason took the positives from a battling display that both he and his players left disappointed they did not take at least a point from.
Steeton started the game brightly and created the evening’s first opportunity.
Josh Coe flicked a ball forward into the path of Aidan Kirby.
The pitch opened up in front of the veteran forward as he moved forward towards the edge of the box.
He would however snatch at the shot and take it wide of the post.
This allowed the tempo of the match to increase full throttle with plenty of end-to-end play as both sides looked to break the lead.
Chances were created but none were taken, the closest either side coming was a free header from James Kemp that was seen over the crossbar by Brad Emmerson in the Steeton goal.
On the half hour mark, the visitors were convinced they should have had a penalty, but the strong appeals were waved away by the official.
The hosts were then convinced that they should have had a man advantage after a late challenge on Keann Shaw.
Again, any shouts were quickly silenced by the referee.
Steeton came close in the opening exchanges of the second period through the head of Nelson skipper Billy Priestley.
The defender was the most relieved man in the ground as his header from a Foley Nkem corner went over his own crossbar.
Midway through the second half, Nelson broke the deadlock with a piece of superb individual play.
Working the ball out wide to the left channel, Luke Hepple took possession of the ball.
Cutting inside from the wing, he worked his way through two attempted challenges before placing the ball across the outstretched Emmerson and inside the far post.
Looking for an equaliser, the home side played balls forward to Coe but were twice thwarted by the offside flag.
With six minutes left on the clock, the Admirals were presented a golden opportunity to double their advantage.
A free kick was allowed to bounce inside the Steeton box and Kirby’s wild swing unfortunately missed the ball and took the legs of a Nelson attacker.
Hepple took hold of the ball and composed himself to send Emmerson the wrong way from the spot to make sure the three points headed back across the Pennines.
The home side though nearly staged a sensational comeback to snatch a point from the jaws of defeat.
Just a minute after falling two goals behind, the Chevvies halved the deficit.
Switching to three at the back and getting bodies forward, Steeton pumped the ball forward from the restart towards the Nelson goal.
A defensive header fell to the edge of the area towards skipper Arley Barnes.
The veteran defender struck the volley sweetly first time and it dipped past the planted Chris Thompson in the Nelson goal into the bottom right corner.
Drama was still to come as the home side agonisingly squandered a golden opportunity to equalise.
Lewis Gartland whipped a corner across the six yard box.
Shaw rose highest amongst the sea of bodies to meet the delivery with his head but much to his, and all those associated with the men in green, despair the header crept just wide of the far post.
STEETON (Subs): Emmerson; Barnes; Smith; Chalashika; Shaw; Hoban (Holgate); Townsend (Gartland); Kelly (Tiffany); Kirby; Nkem (Khan); Coe. Sub (Not Used): Lynn
GOAL: Barnes 85’
