Wibsey 3 Steeton 4

Steeton left it late to come from behind and edge a seven-goal thriller at Wibsey.

On a pitch that was heavy following the overnight rain, it was the visitors who got off to a good start.

Left back Nicky Trowers burst through the home defence to fire straight into keeper Tom O’Hara’s body, and Graham Holmes headed over James Bailey’s cross.

Jamie Longley then headed over from James Gill’s flighted ball.

The initial pressure soon paid off when Longley teed up the onrushing Andy Holden, who crashed his shot into the roof of the net to give Steeton the lead on nine minutes.

Wibsey looked to get straight back into the game as Andrew Binns fired just over.

After 22 minutes, Mick Garnett shot straight into Gill’s stomach and, to much amazement, the referee awarded Wibsey a spot-kick, which Garnett converted.

This seemed to stun the Chev-rons and gave Wibsey fresh impetus. Steeton goalkeeper Paul Linyard did well to tip Phil Brogan’s shot round for a corner. At the other end, Bailey produced another fine ball from the right-hand side but Longley’s header was straight at the keeper.

The second half saw Steeton again make the ideal start. Longley cut in from the left and held the ball up for Gill, who unleashed a first-time shot from the edge of the box that gave O’Hara no chance.

Steeton looked in command as Gill’s header was just the wrong side of the post.

Lee Reilly then wriggled free and fired just the wrong side of the upright and Longley curled an effort wide after good work from the industrious Mark Wilson.

Wibsey almost responded when Binns’ dipping volley looked to have beaten Linyard but the Steeton keeper made a fantastic save, tipping the ball onto the bar and recovering well to block the follow-up.

However, his heroics were in vain as, from the resulting corner, Wibsey levelled when Garnett headed home from close range.

With only 15 minutes remaining, the hosts took control when Brogan broke in from the left and fired across Linyard to give Wibsey the lead for the first time.

Steeton lost Andy Holden with a knee injury and Ricardo Falconi replaced him in midfield. Wibsey only had the lead for a minute when Reilly beat the offside trap and calmly finished to level and set up a tense last ten minutes.

Steeton sensed a victory and Dave Alderson thought he’d given it to them when his header from Bailey’s corner was cleared off the line.

From the resulting corner, Bailey whipped in another fine ball and Longley rose at the far post to head the winner and cue huge celebrations from the Chevrons.

Wibsey still pushed forward looking for a leveller but Jimmy Christian and Alderson did well to repel the late onslaught.

This was a hard-earned victory for Steeton, who had to shuffle the pack with Michael Rhodes and Jack Ogalbe missing.

Boss Roy Mason said: “We showed massive character and I thought that, with the changes in personnel we had to make, it was a really good three points.”

Steeton: Linyard, Trowers, Alderson, Christian, Gill, Wilson, Holden (Falconi), Bailey, Reilly, Holmes, Longley. Subs not used: Lee, Mason.