STEETON maintained their recent good run of form with a hard earned point against high fliers Squires Gate.
The return meeting between the two in November had been a controversial affair full of talking points and questionable decisions, but this time around it would be the football rather than the referee that provided the drama and entertainment.
After both sides grew into the game played in sub zero temperatures at Marley, a pulsating end-to-end affair in the second half will have definitely warmed the 175 hardy souls in attendance.
A slow start to proceedings saw both sides create chances with the first from Steeton seeing a Lewis Gartland effort straight into the hands of the Gate keeper.
The visitors in truth should have opened the scoring from a corner as Dean Ing found himself free inside the area, but his effort at the far post was turned wide from close range.
The breaking of the deadlock would be handed to Squires Gate on a plate shortly before the half-time interval.
Looking to find a way through a resolute Chevrons defence, a cross into the box struck the outstretched arm of Jacob Smith and left the referee with no option but to point to the penalty spot.
Ing would place the ball into the bottom right corner from the spot to open the afternoon’s scoring.
The visitors started the second half brightly, but Steeton then turned the game completely on its head with two goals in the space of seven minutes.
The first was a move of pure quality that was complemented with a finish worthy of the build-up.
Knocking the ball around with quick one touch movement, the ball was shifted to Macca Smith in the channel.
He marauded down the wing before playing a lovely floating cross to the edge of the six yard area.
Josh Coe, who had only come into the starting eleven following the late withdrawal of Aidan Kirby, slipped his man to strike the ball with an exquisite first time volley above the keeper and into the roof of the goal.
Now in the ascendency, the second, and the lead with it, would follow soon after.
Macca Smith’s in-swinging corner was half cleared by the Gate defence.
Arley Barnes struck the ball on the volley but saw his effort rattle the woodwork and land back within the danger area.
Gate would again fail to clear their lines, and Jacob Smith thundered the ball home from the edge of the six yard box to spark scenes of wild celebration with his first goal of the season.
With seven minutes left on the clock, the visitors levelled the scores and with it ensured they would return home with a point.
Gartland saw a cross-cum-shot cleared off the line and thought he had won Steeton a corner.
The ball had not fully crossed the line and Gate hit on an immediate counter.
Amidst the chaos with bodies moving from one end of the pitch to the other, a low cross across the face of goal was met by Christian Edokpayi, the striker managing to scramble the ball just over the line.
Steeton thought they had cleared the shot, but the linesman found himself in the right place at the right time to award the goal.
Both teams had chances to take all three points in injury time but failed to capitalise.
Macca Smith first saw his half volley blasted over from a tight angle before at the other end Dean Ing did the same from a rebound after Brad Emmerson had made a great stop to deny Edokpayi.
STEETON (Subs): Emmerson; M Smith; Williamson; Barnes; Shaw; J Smith; Townsend; Kelly; Coe; Edmonds (Moloney); Gartland. Subs (Not Used): Lynn; Chalashika; Holgate; Khan.
GOALS (Assist): Coe 58’ (M Smith); J Smith 65’ (Barnes)
