Lower Hopton 2 Steeton 2

STEETON twice came from behind to claim a share of the points in a scrappy affair.

The visitors, who were without a game since Easter Monday, threatened when Lee Reilly just failed to get the right connection after Tim Hird had played him through.

The home side then took the lead when keeper Wayne Mahomet and Kyle Fox had a mix-up following a goal kick and Lincoln Adam nipped in to score. Alistair Morgan then fired an effort over the bar and Reilly just failed to get on the end of Declan Consoli’s cross as Steeton looked to level.

The equaliser came when Andy Holden drove forward before unleashing a 30-yard shot that left Mick Clark in the home goal with no chance.

The second half saw Steeton put more pressure on, but the game was getting spoilt with niggly fouls. Lower Hopton launched a long ball into the box that Mahomet punched clear only for Scott Ryan to fire the ball back through a crowded bunch of players to restore the home side's lead.

It lasted barely a minute as Steeton replied instantly. Holden clipped a ball over the top and Morgan beat the offside trap, chested the ball down and curled it into the top corner.

Steeton pressed for a winner as Hird forced Clark into a flying save, Casey Dowthwaite did well on the right-hand side and Steve Pearson had a shot blocked.

At the other end the hosts almost won it when a shot beat Mahomet but Joe Mason cleared off the line. Michael Rhodes then thought he’d got the winner when he headed Morgan’s deep cross against the post.

On the balance of play Steeton may feel it was two points dropped, but manager Roy Mason was upbeat.

He said: “This was a game that could have gone either way and, while we were not at our best, we ground out a point and with a bit more luck we could have had all three.

"It’s another game unbeaten and it’s important that we finish the season strongly with the league cup final still to be played.”

Steeton will face Huddersfield YMCA in the Premier Division Cup final after YMCA beat Golcar 1-0 in their semi-final.

Steeton: Mahomet, Rhodes, Morgan, K Fox, Rooke, Hird, Holden, Pearson, Reilly (Clarkson), J Mason, Consoli (Dowthwaite).

* Steeton reserves went down 5-2 to Honley. Sam Fox and Aaron Abbas got the goals.