STEETON saw their recent unbeaten run in the league come to an end in heartbreaking fashion.
Good value for a hard earned point in a goal-fest away at play-off chasing Ashville, it was fitting that such a thriller was being played on Halloween.
However, a questionable penalty awarded in injury time saw the Chevrons fall to a cruel defeat as they came onto the wrong end of the seven-goal affair.
It appeared as if the longest away trip of the season was going to be a long afternoon for Roy Mason’s side as they fell a goal behind inside the first minute.
An early corner was not dealt with by the Steeton defence and Will Mountfield took advantage to thunder the second ball into the back of the net.
The visitors thought they had found an immediate equaliser from the restart, but Adam Terrelonge was judged to have handled the ball.
A string of fine saves from Brad Emmerson kept his side in the game before they found the leveller shortly before the half hour mark.
Macca Smith played a corner short into the path of Arley Barnes, the skipper rifling his first time effort into the bottom corner.
Now on top, Alfie Dowden thought he had put his side in front but a late offside flag against Josh Coe saw the effort ruled out.
The visitors would have the lead at the break through a second goal that was a near carbon copy of the first.
Another clever set piece routine again from Smith found Barnes with the defender doubling both his and his side’s tally for the afternoon.
And they nearly had a third just before the sound of the half-time whistle as Dowden found Andy Briggs, the striker only being denied by a last ditch clearance.
Steeton began the second half as slowly as they began the first and were punished.
Losing possession cheaply from a throw, Ashville worked the ball to Jordan Deer, and the winger executed a lovely, lobbed effort to beat Emmerson from range to bring the sides back level once again.
The visitors though would retake the lead on the hour mark.
Winning a free-kick in shooting distance, Josh Coe whipped a strike over the wall from 25 yards out to beat the keeper and register his eleventh of the season.
The game had become an open, end-to-end affair and it appeared that the scoreline could be anything by the time the final whistle sounded.
However, it would be the tale of two penalties that turned the game on its head and made sure the three points would remain on the Wirral.
There would be no complaints in regard to the first penalty as Charlie Rowland was taken off the ball after a coming together inside the box, the referee having no choice but to point to the spot.
Deer converted the penalty to again bring the two sides level heading into the final twenty minutes of the contest.
The second penalty would come in injury time and would raise the ire of those in green.
Harrison Denton went down in the box and the referee, who had given a host of inconsistent decisions throughout the afternoon, awarded a soft penalty.
Emmerson’s protests at the decision would see the keeper shown a yellow card.
After a three minute delay following the awarding of the penalty, Deer again converted to seal his hat-trick and with it victory for his side.
There will be no time for the Chevrons to dwell on this late heartbreak ahead of the visit of Maghull to Marley in midweek.
STEETON (Subs): Emmerson; M Smith; Dowden; Barnes; Storton; Spence; Mitchell (Green); Fernandez (Mulvihill-Simpson); Coe; Briggs; Terrelonge. Subs (Not Used): Alasttal; Longley; Williamson.
GOALS (Assists): Barnes’ 29 (M Smith), 39’ (M Smith); Coe 59’
