West Riding County Amateur League Premier Division: Steeton 5 Overthorpe SC 1

STEETON kept pace with the front-runners on a pitch deemed playable despite rain in the preceding days.

For the third successive league game, boss Roy Mason was able to name the same starting XI.

The visitors started the day one off the bottom with nine points and were behind within a minute when Andy Holden drilled home a free-kick from just outside the area into the bottom corner.

Despite sustained pressure, Steeton were unable to add a second before half-time, though Lee Reilly and Andy Briggs went close and Olly Hunter had an effort spectacularly saved.

At the other end, goalkeeper Wayne Mahomet was called upon twice to make diving saves.

The second half was only five minutes old when a Reilly strike doubled the lead.

Overthorpe's heads did not go down and they pulled a goal back after some very fast play down their left flank which saw them feed the ball into the area for Tom McCabe to flick the ball over Mahomet. From this moment, however, Steeton took charge. Skipper Michael Rhodes and Tim Hird, on his 100th appearance, began to dominate midfield and supply the attack with the required ammunition.

A good save brought about a corner after 64 minutes and Briggs nodded the ball home to register his seventh goal of the season.

Sub Jonson Butterfield made his presence felt in the 79th minute with a fine cross which was met by overlapping full back Joe Mason, who drove the ball home to claim his first senior goal on his 40th appearance.

In added time, Butterfield scored Steeton's fifth to round off a successful afternoon.

Steeton remain sixth in the table with 29 points from 15 matches but with games in hand over leaders Golcar United and fifth-placed Huddersfield YMCA.

Boss Mason said: "It was another workman-like performance, where we created a lot of chances throughout the game which was pleasing.

"It was good to play two games on the bounce as the weather has really hampered us this year and we now need to build on this as we face a tough test this weekend when we entertain Littletown."

Steeton: Mahomet, Mason, Hunter, Morgan, Pearson, Hird, Holden, Rhodes (Sowerbutts), Reilly, Holmes (Yates), Briggs (Butterfield).