Steeton 6 Tyersal 0

STEETON ended the year in style as they put struggling Tyersal to the sword.

The writing was on the wall for the visitors – who are languishing in second from bottom with just six points from ten games – as they started with just nine players and found themselves a goal down after only 35 seconds.

Andy Holden hit a crisp shot from just outside the box which left the goalkeeper with no chance.

For the next 15 minutes Tyersal soaked up pressure until two more players joined their ranks.

Just after the half-hour mark Steeton had a chance to double their lead when a drive from Lee Reilly was fumbled by the goalkeeper but Sam Fox fired the rebound over the bar.

Minutes later Reilly had another effort on goal but the keeper made a fine reflex save.

Four minutes before the interval, Sam Rooke headed a cross against the bar and, despite the best efforts of the keeper, Jack Morrall – one of a number of youngsters given a first team opportunity – bundled the ball over the line.

The visitors came out strongly at the beginning of the second half and almost caught the hosts napping when a snapshot was fired narrowly wide.

However, on 51 minutes Reilly curled a shot into the net from the corner of the box to make it 3-0. More youngsters were brought into the fray when Morgan Bridge and the returning Dominic Mortimer replaced Sam Rooke and Sam Fox respectively.

Tyersal should have pulled one back after 70 minutes when goalkeeper Sam Moore dropped the ball but somehow the visiting No 10 missed an open goal.

Eight minutes later Mortimer marked his return to the club when he chipped the keeper after Reilly's shot had been parried.

Reilly scored his second with an unstoppable shot from the edge of the box after a superb threaded pass from Steve Pearson.

He completed his hat-trick when he rammed home a loose ball.

Tyersal did not give up and were unlucky to hit a post with a rasping shot after 88 minutes. Moore also made a superb diving save seconds before the final whistle.

This victory lifted Steeton into ninth in the table with 16 points from 12 games at the halfway stage of the season.

Steeton: Moore, Rhodes, Morgan, Pearson, Rooke (Bridge), Meagan, Holden, Consoli, Reilly, Fox (Mortimer), Morrall (Leach).