Huddersfield YMCA 0 Steeton 2

Steeton returned to winning ways at Huddersfield YMCA in a game that was more convincing than the scoreline suggests.

Again the Chevrons were forced to make changes to the starting XI, Michael Rhodes and Andy King replacing Tim Hird and Jamie Longley, who were injured in the defeat to Campion the previous week.

On a bobbly surface and in glaring sunlight, Steeton were never going to be able to play their normal short-passing game and had to adapt to the pitch and the opposition’s long-ball tactics.

The home side rarely troubled Steeton in the opening exchanges, and any balls over the top were comfortably dealt with by Matty Kershaw and Sam Rooke.

Steeton were beginning to get a bit of joy down the flanks, and the overlapping play of full backs Rhodes and Danny McNulty were worrying the home side.

Indeed, a deep, floated cross from McNulty eluded everybody and Adam Spencer headed over from just underneath the crossbar.

Despite forcing three quick corners in succession, Steeton still hadn’t really troubled the home keeper. Damien Whiteoak made a great run into the box and fed Andy Holden, who couldn’t quite get the connection he was looking for.

Steeton took the lead in the 25th minute, and ironically it was through route-one football.

Phil Rishton’s long punt downfield eluded the home defence and Lee Reilly popped around the back to neatly lob the keeper. Hudders-field tried in vain to level but they were restricted to long-range efforts and, despite some decent build-up play, the final ball was letting them down.

Steeton doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time as King picked up a loose ball in midfield and beat two men before driving the ball hard and low from the edge of the box into the bottom corner.

In effect, this killed the game, and the second period saw more Stee-ton dominance, with both King and McNulty working well down the left-hand side. They created a chance, which Holden fired wide.

Jack Ogalbe then did well to find Rhodes on the right, and Spencer just failed to connect.

Spencer and Reilly linked up well to create another chance that the home keeper did well to save.

Huddersfield’s only real opportunity was from a corner when their centre half headed over after being left free in the six-yard box. Stee-ton boss Roy Mason said: “It was a good win on a difficult surface.

“Again we had to shuffle the pack and the players dug deep to get the points. It was nice to keep a clean sheet into the bargain as well.”

On Saturday, they entertain Halifax Irish, but will be without Michael Rhodes, who is away on county FA duty.

Steeton: Rishton, Rhodes, McNulty, Kershaw, Rooke, Whiteoak, Holden, Ogalbe (Hanson), Reilly, Spencer, A King. Substitutes (not used): PJ King, Dowthwaite.