Steeton AFC v Thornton Cleveleys

Recap

STEETON fell to a second consecutive defeat, going down 4-3 to Thornton Cleveleys in a pulsating game.

Errors and ill-discipline in a poor first hour saw the Chevrons fall four goals behind.

However, the introduction of three substitutions sparked life back into Roy Mason’s side as they scored three goals to get back into the arm wrestle.

Alas though it was in vain as the visitors heroically defended deep into injury time to deny the home side a point on a mild Marley winters afternoon.

Despite an open first ten minutes, the visitors got on top and punished Steeton for an under-par showing in the first half.

Dan Stoney, who turned a Man of the Match performance in for Cleveleys, found the head of Ben Duffield with a looping cross as the latter headed home the opener.

Stoney would help himself to the next two for the visitors, the first a sublime volley just moments after Jordan Beavers had hit the woodwork with an effort of his own.

His second, and his side’s third, was gifted as the Steeton defensive line switched off and Stoney took full advantage by racing through on goal and sliding the ball into the bottom corner.

Three goals down heading into the interval, the ever-worsening problems on the pitch for Steeton would be compounded as Jacob Smith was sin-binned for dissent on the brink of half-time.

Beginning the second half with a man advantage, Cleveleys made the most of it by extending their lead further with a goal of a season contender.

Taking the ball out of the air with an exquisite first touch, Beavers stroked the ball over Brad Emmerson with a distanced lob to make it four.

Left infuriated by both his side’s performance and ill-discipline, Mason rang the changes as he introduced Josh Walne, Alex Stewart, and Josh Coe, from the substitutes bench.

The triple substitution sparked Steeton into life and with it nearly completed the most dramatic of comebacks.

A quick fire three-minute double salvo from Josh Debenham halved the deficit and with it took the striker into double figures for the season.

The first came through a moment of madness at the back for the visitors as Alex Stewart pressed the defender and goalkeeper into a miscommunication.

Debenham took full advantage by claiming possession of the ball and racing through to tap into the open goal.

The same combination brought about the Chevrons second, Stewart weaving his way down the left channel to the edge of the box.

Once there, he delivered a cross into the near post where Debenham was on hand to bravely throw himself towards the ball and be rewarded with the goal.

Continuing to drive forward, a number of chances would be squandered by Steeton, but a third goal came in the 89^th minute.

Winning a free kick in a promising position, Macca Smith’s pinpoint delivery found the head of Coe as the towering forward turned the ball home inside the near post.

Now only needing one goal to equalise, the men in green turned the screw but saw three golden opportunities go awry in injury time.

Thornton skipper Lang cleared a certain second for Coe off the line and away for a corner, from the resulting set-piece Macca Smith saw his diving header go agonisingly wide of the near post.

With the final act of the afternoon, the hero of the hour proved to be Mark Smith in the Cleveleys goal as he made a last second diving save to deny Arley Barnes the equaliser after seeing the ball late through a sea of bodies.

STEETON (Subs): Emmerson; M Smith; Lloyd; Barnes; Illingworth; Holgate; Mitchell; J Smith (Walne); Debenham; Williamson (Coe); Gartland (Stewart). Subs (Not Used): Lynn; Whitworth.

GOALS (Assists): Debenham 63’ (Stewart), 66’ (Stewart); Coe 89’ (M Smith)