Steeton AFC v Ashton Athletic

Recap

STEETON picked up a massive three points in their season in dramatic circumstances as they defeated Ashton Athletic at Marley.

With the two sides at opposite ends of the table and needing the victory for differing reasons, the contest proved a real war of attrition with a lack of quality in the final third proving a problem for both teams.

As the clock hit ninety, Josh Coe scored his fifth goal of the season, the fourth of which to have come in injury time, to seal a much-needed win for Roy Mason and his charges.

Prior to the game, all in attendance paid their tributes to those who had sacrificed their lives for our freedom as is tradition of remembrance weekend.

The game itself then produced a talking point within just two minutes of the start.

Steeton came firing out of the traps and worked the ball to Josh Debenham inside the Ashton Athletic box.

Despite being turned away from the goal, Debenham had his feet taken from beneath him by Joe White.

Strong appeals followed by those in green but neither the referee nor linesman was interested in awarding the penalty.

The game had yet to spark into life yet on the half hour mark, but Sam Lloyd found himself in the book for a late challenge on Jamie Nicholson just inside his own half.

Prior to the break, the home side had a great chance to break the deadlock.

Jake Townsend broke down the right wing and turned into space to deliver a cross into the box.

Debenham got between the centre halves to create a free header for himself, but the Chevvies top goalscorer agonisingly saw his effort bounce just wide of the far post.

The second half would still lack that crucial instinct in front of goal, but more chances created by both teams.

The visitors thought they had found the way through with a well worked team move.

Brad Emmerson however made a sensational save on the line to deny Dek Hill what appeared to be a guaranteed goal.

At the opposite end, Macca Smith drove into the box in freight train style but after finding space to get his shot off saw the effort go inches over the visitors crossbar.

In an attempt to find the winning goal, Mason introduced all five subs in the space of fifteen minutes.

This included a second Steeton debut for Josh Walne who returned to Marley through the week ten months after leaving for Nelson.

Another introduction of the bench, Lewis Shillito, saw his attempt for a winner well stopped by Joe Beswick in the Athletic goal after the striker had made a superb run from halfway.

The game seemed destined to end goalless, but three subs linked up in the last minute to secure the win for the home side.

Walne played the ball towards the box where Shillito was on hand to get in behind the Ashton defence and hold the ball up.

Seeing Coe in support, Shillito flicked the ball into the path of his strike partner who struck first time on the volley.

Despite appearing to be going wide of the far post, the ball curved at the last to creep inside and spark wild celebration amongst home support, staff, and players, alike.

It proved to be the only goal of the afternoon and allows Steeton to open up a six-point gap on the bottom three.

The win is also Steeton’s third in their last five heading into a tough test at home to Nelson midweek in the Second Round of the Macron Cup.

STEETON (Subs): Emmerson; M Smith; Lloyd; Barnes; Illingworth; Holgate (J Smith); Green (Mitchell); Gartland (Walne); Debenham (Shillito); Williamson (Coe); Townsend.

GOAL (Assist): Coe 90’ (Shillito)