West Riding County Amateur League Premier Division: Steeton 1 Wibsey 1

WIBSEY came to Summerhill Lane on the back of two heavy defeats while their hosts were hoping to bounce back after the disappointment of losing to Lepton Highlanders.

Tim Hird took the number ten shirt as Alex Yates was unavailable for the hosts, who almost took the lead in the seventh minute when Elliot Scott hit a cross-cum-shot from the left which beat goalkeeper Forrester but struck the bar.

Halfway through the first period Sam Rooke nodded home a well-placed free-kick from Joe Park but the referee ruled him offside. Park and Tom Sowerbutts both went close after good crosses from Joe Mason, but it was the visitors who took the lead in the last minute of the half when a defensive mix-up left keeper Wayne Mahomet stranded and Danny O'Donnell struck the ball into the unguarded net.

In the second half the play became a bit frantic and scrappy as Steeton strove for an equaliser. Skipper Hird, backed by Andy Holden and the quickly emerging talent of Joe Flaherty, were coping well in midfield but the plan of having Ben Clarkson as a lone striker was not working so Graham Holmes was brought on to add more bite to the attack.

After good work by Sowerbutts, Clarkson hit a full-blooded shot which just cleared the bar.

With a little over 20 minutes to go Park was replaced by Briggs and Steeton went all-out for a goal. However, as they surged forward gaps opened up at the back and they were grateful to some strong defensive work by Alistair Morgan and Mahomet, who in the 77th minute, made two superb saves to keep his side in the game.

With time running out, Clarkson was replaced by Michael Rhodes and Sam Rooke was thrown forward. The number five went close on two occasions but the equaliser came with just two minutes on the clock when substitute Andy Briggs fired through a crowd of players to the delight of the bench and supporters alike.

Steeton: Mahomet, Mason, Scott, Morgan, Rooke, Flaherty, Holden (Holmes), Sowerbutts, Clarkson (Rhodes), Hird, Park (Briggs).