STEETON fell at the first hurdle of this season’s FA Vase as they suffered defeat on the road at Kendal Town.
Facing a journey into the lakes to face opposition from the league above, the Chevrons made a real fight of the tie as they looked to cause a cupset on the road.
And whilst they did just that in a performance to be proud off, their hosts did enough to avoid the Banana skin and progress into the Second Qualifying Round at the expense of those in green.
Similar to the victory over Bacup in Steeton’s previous outing, the opening exchanges were a thrilling end-to-end affair.
Joe Wilkinson saw an early effort for the hosts turned away from goal before at the other end, a shot from range by Arley Barnes went straight into the hands of the Town stopper.
Barnes then saw an effort from inside the area go inches just over the crossbar after a well worked corner routine from Macca Smith.
Kendal then took hold of the game as they looked to make the initial breakthrough.
Veteran forward Jason Walker saw an effort blocked by a Loye Aremu challenge with Joe Sowerby then seeing his curling effort from the edge of the area bend the wrong side of the far post.
Five minutes before the interval, the home side broke the deadlock.
A lapse in concentration saw Steeton cough up possession through a sloppy pass in midfield.
Wilkinson latched onto the ball placed into his path and found himself one-on-one with Brad Emmerson, making his first appearance of the season following suspension.
The striker poked the ball past the onrushing keeper and finished into the empty net.
Now chasing the game, the visitors started the second half strongly as they sought an equaliser but struggled to find an end product.
The closest they came to finding a goal was an Alfie Dowden cross just falling behind Josh Coe after solid hold up play down the channel by Marley Spence.
But the best of the chances during this period would still fall the way of the Northern League outfit as they were twice denied a second goal.
Will McGladdery set Wilkinson through on goal with a through ball similar to his goal, but this time he opted to attempt to lob Emmerson only to be denied.
On the hour mark, it would be the crossbar that came to the rescue of Roy Mason’s side.
Wilkinson this time turned the provider, laying the ball into the path of Niall Cowperthwaite.
The midfielder’s strike rattled the woodwork much to the relief of all those in green.
Midway through the second half, the hosts eventually doubled their advantage.
Joe Dickson delivered a corner into the box where Walker raised the highest amongst the sea of jumping bodies to head home from close range.
The Chevvies threatened to take the game the distance to penalties as they halved the deficit as the clock ticked over the ninety and into injury time.
With bodies pushed forward in an attempt to salvage something from the game, a goalmouth scramble ensued inside the Kendal box.
Dowden touched the ball into the path of substitute Christian Asamoah to fire home his first goal for the club since his summer arrival from Bradford Park Avenue.
However, it would prove nothing more than a consolation on the day as Kendal held firm to secure the win and with it, progression to the next round of the competition.
Steeton now turn their focus back to league action ahead of two trips to the Fylde coast this coming week.
STEETON (Subs): Emmerson; M Smith; Dowden; Barnes; Shaw; Aremu; Darko (Burrows); Spence; Coe; Terrelonge (Asamoah); Abbas (Salah). Subs (Not Used): Parkinson; Gollcher.
GOAL (Assist): Asamoah 90+1’ (Dowden)
