Steeton AFC v Atherton LR

Recap

STEETON fell to a fifth consecutive defeat, losing 2-1 at the hands of promotion hopefuls Atherton Laburnum Rovers.

Recovering from the worst possible start to draw level at the half-time interval but were punished in the second half with manager Roy Mason bemoaning a lack of quality in front of goal.

However, despite having positives to take heading into the final four fixtures of the season, Steeton will still be nervously looking over their shoulders at rivals Route One Rovers in terms of avoiding a bottom three finish.

The Chevrons for the second consecutive game got off to the worst possible start.

Conceding the opening goal after just 50 seconds in their last outing against Ashton, this particular evening saw Mason’s charges fall behind with just 23 seconds on the clock.

Failing to deal with a long ball over the top from the visitors, Cal Hunter raced in behind the defensive line to go through one-on-one.

Once in on goal, the winger curled the ball around the outstretched body of Brad Emmerson and inside the far post to break the deadlock.

Now in the lead and the ascendency, Atherton pushed for the goal to double the advantage and squandered two great opportunities to add to their lead.

Joe Bacon turned a free header near to the penalty spot wide of the far post minutes before Harvey Sample turned a free header of his own high and wide of the near post.

Midway through the half, after a stint of regular possession for the first time in the game, Steeton found a leveller.

Alex Stewart weaved his way in from the wing and forced the visitors to turn the ball away for a corner.

From the set-piece, Stewart whipped the ball towards the far post.

Josh Coe won the initial header and sent the ball back across the face of goal.

As the ball dropped at the near post, Josh Debenham made contact with the back of the head to turn the ball past Joe Bickerstaffe from close range.

A moment of humour followed for all as play was temporarily stopped following the snapping of the corner flag.

Debenham then thought he had put his side into the lead, racing onto a through ball and rounding Bickerstaffe.

The striker thwarted by a late offside flag.

The second half was a slow burner, but the winning goal came for the visitors just nine minutes after the restart.

On the back of a free-kick, Rovers worked the ball in and around the Chevrons area.

After being frustrated by a number of blocks and clearances, they finally found the killer pass.

The ball was sent across the face of Emmerson’s goal with Sample losing his marker to fire home from five yards out.

Despite creating several opportunities in attacking positions, Steeton only mustered three chances to level once more.

Bickerstaffe made a superb diving catch to deny Lewis Gartland’s teasing cross towards his far post.

Golden chances would follow, Ciaran Fleming firing over from the edge of the area, leaning back too much as he shot, not appreciating the time and space at his disposal.

Macca Smith then saw his goal bound effort turned agonisingly wide after an outstanding last-ditch deflection by a Laburnums defender.

There was still time for injury time drama as Gartland found his evening ended prematurely with the winger placed in the sin-bin.

Emmerson then made an outstanding one handed save whilst falling deep into added time to make for an uncomfortable ending rather than an easy one for the visitors.

However, the three points still returned across the Pennines.

STEETON (Subs): Emmerson; M Smith; Lynn (Mitchell); Barnes; J Smith; Holgate (Nimely); Green; Stewart (Fleming); Coe; Debenham; Williamson (Gartland). Sub (Not Used): Gomersall.

GOAL (Assist): Debenham 21’ (Coe)