Steeton Res 2 Wibsey 2

WILL Knight twice gave Steeton the lead but it needed a late goalline clearance to salvage a West Riding County Amateur League point against a strong Wibsey side.

Steeton's second string opened their Division One campaign with a mixture of experienced players and some brand new faces.

The fact that the first half was goalless was not for want of trying. Steeton had goalkeeper Harry Jarman to thank for two smart and almost identical saves, which saw him pushing snap-shots over the crossbar.

At the other end, striker Knight was unlucky to see a powerful header from a Harry McGowan corner cleared off the line.

Many thought the hosts should have been awarded a penalty when Declan Consoli went down under a heavy challenge but the referee ruled that the player had dived, although choosing not to caution him.

Wibsey had two good chances early in the second half but it was the hosts who took the lead after 51 minutes when a speculative ball eluded the visiting centre-backs and Knight placed a crisp shot past the keeper.

Consoli had a number of opportunities to increase the lead but was thwarted by two last-ditch tackles and some sound goalkeeping.

The equaliser came after 70 minutes when Wibsey's number 10 crashed a half-volley in from around 15 yards after some neat passing through the inside-left channel.

Knight grabbed his second goal four minutes later by smashing a left-foot drive in off the underside of the crossbar.

Yet Wibsey levelled again when their number nine hooked in a loose ball after the home defence hesitated, expecting the referee to give an offside decision.

The visitors then almost took the lead in the final minutes after a scramble on the edge of the penalty area which saw Jarman block three efforts before another shot was unleashed.

Fortunately for the hosts, skipper Sam Fox was covering and managed to clear the ball at the last moment.

Steeton Res: Jarman, Alex Briggs, Bryceland, Fox, Howland (Lawn), Gilmartin, McGowan, (Harwood) Smith, Knight, Andy Briggs, Consoli (Chavira).