Thornton Cleveleys v Steeton AFC

Recap

STEETON continued their unbeaten start to the campaign with victory away at Thornton Cleveleys.

For the second consecutive weekend, the Chevrons began the day second in the league and returned home with all three points against the league leaders.

But despite a third consecutive victory, and clean sheet, Roy Mason and his side remained second due to Maghull’s large win elsewhere.

Despite a slow start to the afternoon, the first half would eventually break into life but still prove a close affair between the two early season front-runners of the First Division North.

Steeton came close as Jake Townsend’s effort beat the keeper but trickled just wide of the far post.

At the other end, Thornton created two glorious chances within moments of each other.

The visiting defence held firm with Mbako Chalashika, the previous week’s hero at Holker, making a clearance off the line.

The follow-up was then turned away from the goal courtesy of a trademark superb stop by Brad Emmerson between the sticks.

In sweltering conditions on the Fylde Coast, a drinks break brought a brief halt to proceedings and with it a lull to end the half.

Macca Smith’s deflected effort the closest either side would get prior to the sounding of the half-time whistle.

The second half would prove all Steeton as the men in the white, pink, and black, made famous by Bret Hart dominated from the moment the whistle for the restart was blown.

Macca Smith saw his strike deflected narrowly wide of the post and out for a corner.

And the visitors then thought they had the first goal of the afternoon from the resulting corner which was headed home by Keann Shaw.

Celebrations were however cut short by the referee who adjudged there had been a foul inside the box prior to the defender making contact with the ball.

Then in the 67th minute, the same minute Steeton had levelled the previous week, they broke the deadlock.

Aidan Kirby found the ball at his feet just wide of the goal, the striker delivered the ball to the head of Jacob Holgate who marked his first start of the season to head home for his first ever Steeton goal.

Now on the back foot, the home side were struggling to get themselves back into the arm wrestle and Thornton would finish the afternoon a man down.

Pushing for an immediate second to double their lead, the visitors broke through on goal.

Josh Edwards, who had only signed for the club prior to kick-off, saw his debut come to a premature end.

Forced into halting the Steeton march towards goal, Edwards found himself as last man leaving the referee no choice but to distribute an immediate red card.

Now a goal and a man to the good, it would not be long before Steeton doubled their lead.

With ten minutes left on the clock, Shaw sent a pass out wide to Townsend on the right wing.

Townsend cut inside from the wing and the Steeton vice-captain found his way towards the edge of the area.

Composing himself, he struck the ball across the Cleveleys goalkeeper and inside the bottom left corner to the delight of the 25 travelling supporters from West Yorkshire.

There was a late chance for a third goal as captain Arley Barnes made a marauding run forward from the right back position.

However, his effort from the edge of the area flew over the crossbar.

Up next for the Chevvies is consecutive cup fixtures beginning next Saturday away at Park View in the First Qualifying Round of the FA Vase.

STEETON (Subs): Emmerson; Barnes; Lynn (Edwards); Chalashika; Shaw; Hoban; Townsend; Mitchell (Kelly); Kirby; M Smith (J Smith); Holgate (Thornton). Sub (Not Used): Ashworth

GOALS (Assist): Holgate 67’ (Kirby); Townsend 80’ (Shaw)