STEETON fell at the first hurdle of the Macron Cup as they were defeated at home by Nelson.
Described as a “free hit” by Roy Mason against the side sitting second in the division above, the Chevrons did themselves proud and will have come away feeling the 4-1 scoreline flattered their opposition.
And it was a sentiment that was shared by the manager who took plenty of positives ahead of next weekend’s return to league action away at newly promoted AFC Knowsley.
Steeton started the game brightly as they played some good football and looked to take the game to their higher league opponents.
Surviving an early scare after a free header from Nelson inside the box rattled the crossbar, the Chevrons themselves were unlucky to not be the side that broke the deadlock.
From a quick corner routine, Joe Edmonds was denied by an outstanding last ditch tackle inside the box.
Keeping the ball alive, Macca Smith drew an outstanding diving save from Chris Thompson with the Nelson keeper then scrambling to make another save to deny the onrushing Kevin Gonzalez.
As the first half drew near its conclusion, the Premier Division outfit found the breakthrough.
Conceding a free-kick on the edge of their own area through a lazy challenge, the hosts invited unnecessary pressure.
Andrew Hill’s whipped delivery across the face of goal was turned home at the far post as Sefton Gonzalez outmuscled Nathan Storton to tap in from a yard out.
This opening goal lit a spark within the visitors and on the brink of the half-time whistle, doubled their advantage.
Moments after Brad Emmerson made an outstanding save to deny George Hutchinson, Nelson hit on the counter attack.
Steeton’s attempts to play an offside trap were thwarted as Jamie Edwards read the line superbly to go through one-on-one with the keeper and place the ball coolly into the bottom corner.
After a sluggish start to the second half by both sides, Steeton found a route back into the contest.
Macca Smith’s corner was flicked on at the near post by Arley Barnes and struck the hand of a Nelson defender amongst a melee inside the six-yard box.
The referee did not hesitate and proceeded to point to the penalty spot.
Nelson’s protests led to a brief delay, but this did not phase Gonzalez as the striker sent Thompson in goal the wrong way to half the deficit for his third goal of the season.
Now with the momentum, the Chevrons pushed for an equaliser but the closest they came was a half volley from Edmonds that rose agonisingly inches over the crossbar from just inside the box.
But in similar fashion to the first half, the visitors turned the screw at the back end of the half and with it produced two quick-fire goals.
Nelson’s third will have left those in green feeling frustrated through its simple nature.
A first-time long ball over the top evaded the attention of everyone except the intended target of Jared Gilbey.
The winger played a lovely, executed delivery across the face of the goal where the onrushing Luke Hepple slid the ball beneath Emmerson into the back of the net.
Then with five minutes remaining, all hopes of a Steeton comeback were dashed.
This time the ball was played out wide into the path of James Kemp who in turn put Hepple through on goal to score his second of the afternoon.
Steeton had opportunities to find a consolation goal in injury time, but Thompson made two routine stops to deny both Emerson Mitchell and Haroon Salah from range.
STEETON (Subs): Emmerson; M Smith; Dowden; Barnes; Storton; Spence (Burrows); Alasttal (Fernandez); Mulvihill-Simpson; Gonzalez; Edmonds (Salah); D Smith (Mitchell)
GOAL (Assist): Gonzalez 59’ (Barnes)
