Steeton AFC v Maghull

Recap

STEETON fell to their first league defeat of the campaign at the hands of league leaders Maghull.

Looking to record a third straight top of the table win, extending the overall streak to four, a slow start punished the Chevrons and left them with too much of a mountain to climb.

However, it was a loss that did not come without controversy in the second half as the hosts pushed for an equaliser.

Alas, a first league reverse, and third straight in all competitions, left Roy Mason and his side empty handed on the day at Marley.

The visitors started brightly and nearly got of to a perfect start but were thwarted by a superb clearance by Chevvies skipper Arley Barnes.

Steeton then had a chance of their own as Jake Townsend broke through on goal but his effort was dragged just wide of the far post.

Midway through the first half, the visitors broke the deadlock.

Cutting through the Steeton midfield, they worked the ball towards the box.

Once there, skipper Harrison Worden cut the ball across the face of goal where Sam Smith was on hand to continue his fine start to the season and fire home.

Shortly before the half-time whistle sounded, Maghull doubled their lead.

A long ball over the top was met by Smith who took control of the ball with a fine touch before lobbing the ball over the head of Brad Emmerson for his and his side’s second of the afternoon.

There was time for the first debatable decision of the afternoon in added time.

Steeton were adamant the ball had been forced over the line by Keann Shaw after the ball bounced around the area from a corner, but there was zero interest from the officials to award the goal.

Maghull then nearly ended the contest from the resulting kick down the pitch, but Emmerson made a superb acrobatic save to deny Jamie Clark from range.

A goal behind, the Chevrons knew they had to start brightly.

The hosts halved the deficit with a helping hand from the weather conditions.

Jack Lynn, introduced from the bench, took a throw that was headed back into his path on the wing by Aidan Kirby.

Lynn then launched a cross towards the far post in the hope of finding a man in green to turn the ball home.

Instead, the Maghull keeper’s efforts to punch clear instead saw the wind turn the direction of the ball behind him and into the goal to set up a grandstand finish.

Now pushing to level, Steeton saw three clear opportunities to find the equaliser turned away by the officials to the uproar of all in green and white.

Two came courtesy of the linesman.

Both Kirby and Lewis Gartland thought they had turned efforts across the goal line, but on both occasions the officials judged the Maghull defence had done enough to clear the danger and maintain their lead.

There was no question about the penalty that was sensationally turned away by the referee.

Kirby’s volley on the turn struck the arm of the Maghull centre half, who had his arm both away from his body and in the air.

The man in the middle waved the strong appeals away which sparked fury both on the bench and on the touchlines.

But deep in injury time, the visitors found the third goal to thwart any dramatic scenes and make sure the three points returned to Merseyside.

Nathan Moffitt bent the ball past Emmerson into the top corner from a flick on after a long throw into the box.

STEETON (Subs): Emmerson; Barnes; Williamson (Lynn); Chalashika (J Smith); Shaw; Hoban (Coe); Townsend; Holgate; Kirby; M Smith; Gartland. Subs (Not Used): Kelly; Thornton

GOAL (Assist): Lynn 70’ (Kirby)