Shamrocks brought back down to earth

Keighley Shamrocks went into this encounter with high hopes, having not lost in their last four league games.

Manager Gavin Finn had, for the first time this season, had a chance to name a virtually unchanged starting 11 from last week's winning team against Campion.

Playing himself up front for the missing Damian Lee, who was away due to work commitments, was the only change.

The first 15 minutes was a tight affair with both teams not wanting to give anything away. Storthes settled down first, stretching Shamrocks with some good football.

They got their breakthrough on the half-hour mark. Keighley's two centre halves failed to deal with a through ball allowing the Storthes striker to claim the ball and fire past the helpless Spencer Harrison in goal.

Shamrocks didn't let their heads go down and began to work harder creating chances of their own. Shamrocks let their concentration slip once again when they failed to clear a ball in their six-yard box, which resulted in a Storthes player forcing the ball over the line.

In the second half half Shammies opted to push Neil Grayston into central midfield at the heart of a 3-5-2 formation. This was effective from the off with Shammies pressing hard to get back into the game.

The work rate could not be faulted as Richard Chattoe and Stuart Whitehead held it tight in the middle and James Rutherford and John Spurr worked hard to force something down the flanks. Shammies pinned them back for most of the second half but it wasn't to be their day.

This Saturday Shamrocks host Cowling in the Keighley Cup. Kick-off is at 1.45pm.

Rawdon 2 Steeton 1 When lady luck is not on your side football has a habit of kicking you in the teeth and that was certainly the case on Saturday as Steeton left Rawdon pointless despite dominating the game from the first whistle.

After last week's dismal performance at Wakefield, Steeton manager Roy Mason rang the changes with debuts for 16-year-old pair Joe Park and Sam Rooke and recalls for Mark Hardman and Anthony Foulger.

Steeton defended against a strong wind in the first half and the only danger was a long-range shot that rattled their bar.

On the attack both Ricardo Falconi and Dave Scott went close to putting the locals in front but failed to get the connections needed. With Foulger and Gareth Atkinson marshalling the defence and Arley Barnes looking to push forward Rawdon spent large parts of the game on the back foot.

Steeton took the lead in the 65th minute when Nivard Trowers and Hardman combined to thread the ball through for Chris Smith who drew the keeper and calmly slotted home.

Hardman's fierce drive was parried around the post as Steeton looked to increase their lead and Scott's looping effort also nearly foiled the keeper. With only eight minutes on the clock the referee penalised Steeton for a back pass. The Rawdon striker sliced his shot but that was enough to leave James Wiggan with no chance in the Steeton goal and levelled the scores. Steeton almost had an immediate response as Rooke found space in the box but fired straight at the keeper.

With two minutes of injury time gone Rawdon grabbed a dramatic winner as a ball across the box wasn't dealt with and the oncoming striker poked out a toe and the three points were in the bag. Mason couldn't criticise the effort of his side.

"After last week's game at Wakefield it was a big test for us today and with three 16-year-olds in the side as well. I thought that we showed a lot of effort and endeavour; however as with previous games this season we have been left to rue missed chances.

"With the number of key players that we have got out at the moment November was always going to be a challenging month and with Oxenhope and Marsden to come in our next two games things won't get any easier."

South Bradford 1 Bronte 0 Missed chance after missed chance was the order of the day for Bronte who could of gone into half-time three or four goals to the good. Instead it was 0-0 with Bronte having to play up the slope and into the wind in the second half which brought a more even game from both sides.

Playing with a different system Bronte found themselves with more possession than in recent weeks and they put it to good use by slicing through the South Bradford team at will. However their final shot was either high wide or straight at the keeper. Unfortunately with all of Bronte's possession it was South Bradford who got the only goal of the game.

Although it looked slightly off-side the referee didn't blow his whistle and their player rounded the keeper for the goal.

This Saturday Bronte travel to Salts with three points a must.

Steeton Reserves 8 Rawdon OB Reserves 2 With no game for two weeks Steeton got back on track with a comprehensive victory against never say die Rawdon.

Steeton took the lead after 20 minutes through young Sam Ash, scoring from close range, after good work by Chris Fothergill and Colin Horsfield. Rawdon levelled minutes later through Liam Kean but further goals from a Horsfield header and Chris Turner's tap in from Horsfield's cross made it 3-1 at half-time.

The locals found another gear in the second half adding goals through a Matty Boyle header, another from Ash and a second half hat-trick from substitute Tony Cooper.

Rawdon bravely pulled another goal back through a Matthew Hillam header but Steeton's incisive, flowing football and clinical finishing was the highlight of the day.

This Saturday sees Steeton Reserves in home action again, this time meeting local Craven rivals Cross Hills Reserves in the Supplementary Cup. Kick-off at Summerhill Lane is at 1.45 pm.