STEETON failed to build on a positive week as they suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Thornton Cleveleys.
On the back of a first league win against Bacup and a brave cup showing at higher league opposition in the FA Vase, morale was high in camp ahead of this one.
But in truth, the home side dominated throughout the encounter and had the game wrapped up by half-time on the back of a first half that was described as “calamitous” by those of a Chevrons persuasion.
And it left manager Roy Mason with more questions instead of answers ahead of a return to the Fylde Coast at the weekend to face Squires Gate.
Thornton came out firing from the first whistle and didn’t take long to break the deadlock.
Winning a corner six minutes into the piece, Jacob Aspinall whipped his delivery into the wind blowing in from the Irish Sea.
Catching the breeze, the ball curled inside the near post and into the back of the net after finding Brad Emmerson flat footed on the line.
Just two minutes later, another Aspinall corner nearly produced another goal in the same circumstances, but this time Emmerson turned the threat away.
Midway through the half, Aspinall’s corner deliveries this time provided an assist to double his sides advantage but only after a moment of confusion.
Ben Duffield appeared to force the ball over the line from close range, but Steeton appeared to clear the danger.
Play continued with no goal given but after nearly a minute of action, the referee halted play to consult with his linesman.
The linesman judged the ball had crossed the line and the goal was eventually awarded.
Josh Winder saw his curling effort from range go just wide of the far post, but it proved a footnote in proceedings as a minute later, the third Cleveleys goal hit the back of the Steeton net.
Duffield flicked a long ball into the path of Winder, this time he opted to pass instead of shoot and his through ball played Jordan Beavers in on goal to finish.
Steeton had a half chance with Josh Coe’s header clearing the crossbar with the hosts squandering a great chance to hit a fourth before the break.
Another attack saw the ball delivered into a dangerous area, on this occasion Duffield missed when it seemed easier to score.
With the words of their manager ringing in their ears, Steeton started the second half brightly but failed to create any chances of note as they looked to find a way back into the encounter.
And they were made to pay as Thornton put the result beyond any doubt with a fourth goal in the 73rd minute.
Lewis Walmsley beat the offside trap and found space in the channel.
Now making his way towards the area, his delivery was put on a plate for fellow substitute Luke Harris who finished with ease from close range.
The visitors still had two decent chances of their own, both falling the way of the Chevrons Man of the Match on the night, Alfie Dowden.
Dowden’s first effort saw him put his foot through an attempted clearance, the strike going agonisingly over the crossbar.
The crossbar then thwarted the left wing-back with the clock winding down as his fantastic effort from range beat the keeper but struck the woodwork.
In injury time, Cleveleys thought they had a fifth to further rub salt into the wounds of their visitors.
Emmerson though made an unbelievable save to applause from all of the 205 in attendance on the night.
STEETON (Subs): Emmerson; M Smith; Dowden; Barnes; Shaw (Burrows); Aremu; Darko; Spence (Parkinson); Coe; Terrelonge (Abbas); Salah (Asamoah). Subs (Not Used): Gollcher.
