Steeton 7 Hunsworth 1

STEETON enjoyed an emphatic victory in their first league game of 2016, which was played on the artificial pitch at University Academy Keighley due to their pitch being out of action following bad weather.

Bottom side Hunsworth had just one point to their name and had already conceded in excess of 100 league goals.

And the Chevrons added to their woes by putting seven past them as Lee Reilly and Lee Thompson helped themselves to a brace apiece.

There were a number of changes to the team which beat Tyersal in the last league fixture. Wayne Mahomet returned to keep goal, Declan Consoli took the number three shirt from Alistair Morgan, who was a substitute, Tim Hird and Thompson returned to the midfield and Andy Briggs was given a start up front.

The hosts took only nine minutes to take the lead when a superb cross-field pass from Consoli found Joe Meagan on the right wing and his cross was headed in by Thompson.

The lead was doubled just four minutes later when Thompson fed Reilly and the striker smashed the ball home from the edge of the area.

The visitors almost pulled a goal back when Mahomet slipped while collecting the ball at the side of the box but a striker put the ball wide of the open goal.

Steeton went 3-0 up in the 25th minute when skipper Michael Rhodes slid the ball to Thomson, who in turn rolled it into the path of Reilly for his 15th of the season.

A fourth goal almost came five minutes later when an inch-perfect left-wing cross from Consoli was headed onto the bar by the hard-working Briggs. Eight minutes later, it did come thanks to some nimble footwork from Consoli, who cut inside his man and unleashed an unstoppable curling shot from 20 yards.

Steeton were caught napping early in the second half when a free-kick from the left caused confusion in their box and Courtney Marsh slotted home.

Steeton's fifth goal came on the hour-mark when some fine play down the right by Andy Holden led to him crossing for Reilly to nod the ball into the path of Thompson, who placed a low drive into the bottom corner of the net.

Sam Rooke's header missed the target by inches before, on 65 minutes, Graham Holmes came on for Meagan and Consoli was replaced by Mark McGee, who returned to first-team action after a long lay-off.

Three minutes later Briggs was rewarded for his hard work when he slotted home after a clever reverse pass by Holmes put him through.

With 20 minutes to go Morgan replaced Pearson, who had played superbly alongside Rhodes and Rooke in the back line.

Steeton's final goal came when Holmes took advantage of a mix-up. Holden went close and Reilly almost completed his hat-trick but his chip struck the bar, McGee's header on the rebound being disallowed for offside.

Steeton: Mahomet, Rhodes, Consoli (McGee), Pearson (Morgan), Rooke, Hird, Holden, Thompson, Briggs, Meagan (Holmes).