Goole 3 Steeton 4

STEETON progressed into the second round of the County Challenge Cup following an exciting win over the team they beat in the semi-final of the 2013-14 competition.

With Steeton having to reshuffle following Nicky McNally’s move back to Silsden, Declan Consoli came into midfield and Andy King was pushed further forward to support Lee Reilly, while Joe Meegan returned.

The visitors struck the first blow after 20 minutes when Andy Holden whipped in a great corner and Sam Rooke headed home at the far post.

They increased their lead when a great passing interchange saw Joe Park and Tim Hird combine to feed Andy King, who coolly stroked home from just inside the box.

At the other end Consoli made a great tackle on the edge of the box before Steeton made it 3-0 after the break. Reilly picked the ball up on the touchline and his deft ball over the top picked out Hird, who scored with an exquisite lob over the advancing keeper.

Goole seemed dead on their feet and Reilly made it four when he was felled in the box and he slotted home from the spot. With Reilly complaining of a slight strain, Steeton took no chances with their leading scorer and replaced him with Aaron Abass.

However, Goole got a lifeline when Thomas Bryan headed home at the near post from a corner. Hird was then penalised for a challenge of the edge of the box and Rob Constable curled home a free-kick to put the home side back in with a shout.

Joe Park made a block inside his own area that looked all the way a goal for the hosts and Ryan Cox did the same a minute later.

Holden’s free-kick hit the side netting but with eight minutes remaining, Constable was allowed space in the box and he volleyed home a third to set up a grand finale. The home side threw everything at Steeton and even clipped the bar as they looked to take the game to penalties.

But Steeton held on after a turbulent week off the field. They now face West Yorkshire league side Horbury Town at Summerhill Lane in November.

Boss Roy Mason said: "It was a great performance and we seem to save our best performances for the bigger games. The players rallied around superbly after the previous week's lacklustre performance at Hunsworth. With a few people writing us off in this game, we used those words to motivate the players. "The team spirit and will to win saw us through in the end against a very strong physical side."

Steeton: Moore, Rhodes, Park, Meegan, Rooke, Hird, Holden, Cox, Reilly (Abass), Consoli (Briggs), King.