Steeton 4 Littletown 4

STEETON notched a second straight 4-4 draw – this time against one of the two teams below them in the West Riding County Amateur League Premier Division prior to kick-off.

However, it was an opportunity missed, despite Steeton netting three goals in the last 13 minutes, with manager Roy Mason saying: "We played our best football of the season in the second half and how we didn't win the game I don't know.

"We passed the ball superbly and created chances throughout the game. Once we stop conceding silly goals, then we will be okay."

With Tim Hird unavailable and Graham Holmes injured, Andy Holden and Mark McGee were the only changes to last week's starting XI as Steeton lined up with a 3-4-3 formation that switched to 5-4-1 when Littletown had the ball.

Behind in the tenth minute to a 30-yard strike, Steeton were denied in the 20th minute when Andy Holden's free-kick beat the keeper but was cleared off the line.

In danger of going 2-0 down as the back three of Sam Rooke, Matty Kershaw and Joe Meegan were regularly in action and wing backs Arley Barnes and Joe Park were caught between wanting to get forward and needing to defend, Steeton equalised in the 42nd minute.

Lee Reilly cut the ball back to Damien Whiteoak and Steeton's skipper smashed the ball home – but the celebrations were short-lived as Littletown netted again two minutes later and took a 2-1 lead into the interval.

Mason's decision to replace Josh Metcalfe with Andy King for the second half almost paid off immediately, with King adding pace and urgency to the attack and creating three chances in the opening five minutes.

The added momentum did not last though, and the game looked to be heading for a 2-1 win to Littletown until they added a third goal in the 77th minute and a fourth a minute later.

Steeton responded by replacing Mark McGee with Danny Driver and pushing Rooke up front.

Once again, there was barely a minute between goals, Holden's shot being parried by the visiting keeper into the path of Lee Reilly, who calmly slotted home.

With Steeton now believing they could salvage something, they continued to press and were soon awarded a penalty for a foul on Barnes, Reilly successfully converting the spot-kick with nine minutes remaining.

However, Littletown soaked up the pressure as Steeton battled for an equaliser, Holden's free-kick flying narrowly over in the 91st minute.

But a minute later, the hosts had the goal they needed, Reilly evading a number of challenges in the box and placing a shot confidently past the keeper to complete his hat-trick.

Both teams had chances for a late winner, Meegan making a fantastic last-ditch tackle that stopped a Littletown striker going one-on-one with keeper Wayne Mahomet, while Reilly's shot was blocked by a defender's leg in the last action of the match.

Reece Pollard, Kane Hall, Joe Burland and Richard Newman netted for next-to-bottom Littletown, with Steeton a place and a point above them.

STEETON: Mahomet, Kershaw, Park, Meegan, Rooke, Whiteoak, Holden, Barnes, Reilly, Metcalfe (King), McGee (Driver). Sub (not used): Sutcliffe.

Steeton Reserves were also involved in a 4-4 draw – at early leaders Thornes in Division One. Ross Bailey (2), Josh Huntley and Casey Dowthwaite netted for the visitors.

The Steeton first team's next game is at Kirkburton on Saturday, when the reserves host Wakefield City. Both games kick-off at 2.30pm.