STEETON exited the West Riding County Cup with a spirited performance against a strong Guiseley outfit.
With a number of regulars unavailable, manager Roy Mason admitted he was proud of the showing his players put on against a near full strength side from three levels above in the pyramid.
And it was a feeling shared by the home support amongst the healthy crowd of 231 in attendance as the hosts took positives from defeat.
However, the difference in quality as a result of the 77 places between the two teams proved to be the Chevrons undoing on the night.
Guiseley nearly got off to the dream start as Kyle White got through on goal on the counter but was denied by a sensational fingertip save from Brad Emmerson to tip the strike over the crossbar.
The visitors would break the deadlock midway through the first half, with the Chevrons leaving themselves frustrated in the manner in which they conceded.
Fermin Fernandez was caught in possession with Emerson Mitchell stepping up to support his midfielder.
This allowed White to play a through ball in behind the defensive line to Longbottom.
The striker composed himself and fired across Emmerson inside the far post to open the scoring.
Steeton nearly found an immediate equaliser as Fernandez found space down the right wing and sent the ball inside to Kevin Gonzalez.
Gonzalez looked up and let a thunderous strike off from the edge of the area that was agonisingly turned away by a save of quality from Michael Roxburgh in the Lions goal.
The second-half began fast paced and end-to-end with a deflected Adam Terrelonge nearly bringing the home side level.
However, a second goal from the visitors midway through the half put Guiseley in complete control.
Repeatedly frustrated in their efforts to double their advantage, Jordan Thewlis produced a moment of quality.
The winger struck a sweet first-time half volley from 30 yards which left Emmerson with no chance as the shot flew into the bottom corner from range.
Mason’s side nearly halved the deficit through George Burrows as the substitute’s first contribution being an effort from distance that Roxburgh got behind to maintain his clean sheet.
With a stretched Steeton squad now tiring as the clock wound down, the final ten minutes of the contest saw the visitors prove the three tier gap in both quality and fitness.
Although the visitors’ third was another moment of quality.
Unable to break through into the box as Steeton put a green wall behind the ball, the Northern Premier League outfit worked the ball across the edge of the area before shifting left into the path of Cam Wilson.
Wilson took a touch before curling the ball across the face of the goal and inside the far post to make it three.
From the restart, the visitors took possession immediately and very nearly made it four.
However, Alfie Dowden managed to get back onto the line to make an outstanding headed clearance back into play and the safety of Emmerson’s hands.
The fourth goal soon followed as Steeton were caught on the counter attack.
Dan Brookes broke through and his finish hit both posts and initially appeared to have been cleared by a home defender.
The linesman however already had his flag raised to indicate that the ball had crossed the line whilst between the uprights with the referee awarding the goal.
Late on, Steeton had a chance to find a consolation with Haroon Salah and Josh Coe seeing their strikes blocked with Burrows then volleying just wide with the last action of the evening.
STEETON (Subs): Emmerson; Alasttal; Dowden; Mitchell; Storton; Spence; Mulvihill-Simpson; Fernandez (Burrows); Coe; Gonzalez (Salah); Terrelonge (Longley). Sub (Not Used): Barnes
