Steeton 0 Ovenden WR 0

STEETON found themselves without Lee Reilly, Andy Holden, Joe Park, Sam Rooke and James Nettleton for this fixture against Ovenden.

Aaron Abass, Jack Richmond, Josh Ferguson, Joe Meagan and Lee Barker were drafted in as replacements. Manager Roy Mason named himself and the less than fit Rooke and Graham Holmes as substitutes.

Despite the lack of goals this was a hugely entertaining match.

The first half was spoiled by some niggly fouls from both sides, one of which left Steeton midfielder Ryan Cox needing attention.

Home defender Lee Barker was called upon twice to show fine timing in cutting out excellent through-balls by the visitors' midfielders.

Ovenden battled to penetrate a back-line which was well organised by returning skipper Michael Rhodes.

Both Barker and Meagan (who gave probably his best first-team performance to date) made outstanding tackles too when called upon to do so.

After about 25 minutes Ovenden were awarded a free-kick some 25 yards from goal. It was taken quickly before the defensive wall was properly organised.

The snap shot brought out the best of goalkeeper Wayne Mahomet who at full stretch to his right caught the ball just before it crossed the line.

This was the first of a number of saves the home keeper made to keep his side in the game.

At the other end Abass was working hard but was unable to penetrate a strong defence backed by a confident keeper.

Andy King saw two long-range efforts miss the target after being fed deliveries from Cox and McNally.

Midfielder Tim Hird also fired in a long-range shot which was well held by the visiting goalkeeper.

Just before the interval Mahomet was called upon to deal with two on-target shots which, although well struck, were straight at him.

The majority of the second period followed much the same pattern as the first 45 minutes.

Barker was cautioned for a foul and Steeton's captain Rhodes was booked for dissent.

As the game progressed neither team seemed willing to settle for a point.

Mahomet was twice forced to come off his line to block attacking moves before King saw another effort just miss the target. A superb volley by McNally then flashed across the goal.

The best effort of the match came in the 75th minute when Ferguson put McNally through with what was surely the pass of the match. The striker controlled the ball and unleashed a powerful shot which the Ovenden goalkeeper just managed to divert a little and the ball smashed against the crossbar before being scrambled to safety.

This was the last meaningful attack by the hosts as it was now all hands on deck in a defensive mode as the visitors pushed forward to find a winner in the dying minutes.

Under-pressure Steeton produced some stout defending by Barker and two particularly good clearances by Cox and Jack Richards.

With some agile goalkeeping by Mahomet, Ovenden failed to secure all three points and travelled home disappointed with just one.

Steeton on the other hand were pleased to have, with a depleted side, held a strong Ovenden team and maintain their third place standing in the league table.

Steeton boss Roy Mason said: "With the fact that we were really down to the bare bones on Saturday it made the performance even more pleasing.

"We defended very well as a team and the players worked their socks off and after the poor performance against Salts on Wednesday it was the perfect response."

STEETON: Mahomet, Rhodes, Ferguson, Meagan, Barker, Hird, Richards, Cox, Abass, McNally, King. Subs (all unused) R Mason, Rooke, Holmes.