Holker Old Boys v Steeton AFC

Recap

STEETON suffered a second successive defeat on the road, going down 2-0 at the hands of promotion chasing Holker Old Boys.

In an even contest played against the backdrop of freezing temperatures in south Cumbria, manager Roy Mason bemoaned his side’s lack of quality in the final third as they were punished at the other end.

However, it was an afternoon not without controversy with several questionable refereeing decisions raising the ire of both Mason and counterpart Dave Round, as well as their respective sets of players, both throughout and after the game.

The opening half hour proved a tight affair, the two real chances of the opening exchanges falling the way of the home side.

Joe Amison turned his header over the bar before an outstanding low outstretched save to his right onto the woodwork from Brad Emmerson denied Tyler Spence from the edge of the area.

With six minutes to go until the half time interval, Holker broke the deadlock in bizarre yet controversial circumstances.

Play had restarted with a Holker throw, however the ball initially cleared from the pitch had been thrown back on by accident from a spectator in attendance.

With the two balls now live, a Holker player cleared the spare ball across the park and back to the sidelines.

This caused confusion with players from both sides following this ball rather than the ball being used for play.

The resulting effect of this saw Luke Davey free at the far post to place the ball into the roof of the net with a Steeton defender out of position because of following the incorrect ball.

Vocal protests followed from all those in yellow and blue, the official remained unmoved saying the second ball had not interfered with play and the goal stood.

Steeton started the second half brightly but found themselves forced into a sub.

Moments after Jake Townsend saw his effort from range go agonisingly over the crossbar, Jacob Smith remained down in back play.

The centre half’s groin injury left him in clear pain and discomfort and with no choice but to enforce an early end to his participation in the contest.

Chevvies assistant manager Jacob Mistry then found himself in the book for his questioning of the decision to enforce Josh Coe off the pitch for 30 seconds despite a significant stoppage in play after the later challenge that left the striker requiring treatment.

Immediately following this incident, Holker doubled their advantage.

Coe felt he had been fouled on halfway but was waved to his feet by the referee.

With the counter attack in full flow, Tom Dawson found his way in behind the defensive line to place the ball over the diving Emmerson and inside the far post.

Dawson had a golden opportunity to add his second, and Holker’s third, minutes after but somehow turned his free header from just inside the six-yard box over the bar.

Frustrations grew for Dawson as he had another chance to add to the Holker tally, this time being denied by a superb Emmerson save.

Arley Barnes was booked late on for a tactical foul, but the referee had not finished being the centre of attention.

The afternoon’s final action saw Steeton denied a clear penalty for handball and with it any chance of a consolation goal.

Tyler Wood, already on a yellow card, caught the ball whilst still on the ground to deny Josh Debenham’s goal bound shot.

Protests continued following the sound of the final whistle, Macca Smith and Emmerson seeing their names taken regarding the officials’ failure to point to the spot.

STEETON (Subs): Emmerson; M Smith; Lloyd; Barnes; J Smith (Walne); Holgate (Mitchell); Green (Lynn); Stewart (Fleming); Coe; Debenham; Townsend (Williamson)