Steeton 2 Lepton Highlanders 3

STEETON boss Roy Mason hopes this defeat will provide 'a kick up the backside' after they squandered a 2-0 lead in suffering their first defeat of the season.

Highlanders had been on the end of a 6-0 home defeat by Littletown in their only other match but they came from behind to steal the points.

Sam Rooke returned to the defence for the unavailable Steve Pearson and Tom Sowerbutts lined up in midfield replacing the injured Rory Judd.

The hosts created a huge number of chances early on but were unable to convert them. Joe Mason twice put over inch-perfect crosses which almost led to goals but he saw Ben Clarkson's towering header strike the underside of the bar and a neatly flicked effort from Sowerbutts fly just wide.

The well-deserved breakthrough came after 20 minutes when a through ball split the visiting centre-backs and Clarkson rammed home to notch his fifth goal of the season.

A host of other chances went astray before, on the half-hour mark, Alistair Morgan headed a left-wing corner across the area where Sowerbutts was well positioned to flick home to make it 2-0. Skipper Andy Holden, Joe Flaherty and Joe Park strived hard to supply the attack with opportunities but, despite the best efforts of Clarkson and strike partner Alex Yates, the Highlanders held firm. Elliot Scott had a fine game and was often left in a great deal of space which allowed him to feed the attack with some fine crosses - but all to no avail.

The second half saw a transformed Lepton really pressing their hosts and Wayne Mahomet was the busier of the two goalkeepers.

The home defence held firm however and on 68 minutes Clarkson was unlucky to see an effort cleared off the line.

Two minutes later Steeton's best chance of the half fell to Yates who latched on to a loose ball and managed to round the advancing goalkeeper before stabbing wide.

Chances went begging at both ends until the 80th minute when, after a mazy run into the area, Lepton's Jacob Robertson slotted past the advancing Mahomet.

Five minutes later the equaliser came when a free-kick from the left was swung in and headed home by captain Josh Cooke.

In added time a misplaced back-header brought an acrobatic parry from Mahomet but he could not prevent the ball falling to the feet of the advancing Robertson, who rammed home the winner. Seconds later the referee blew the final whistle.

Mason said: "This was a game that should have given us maximum points. At 2-0 up we had more than enough chances to kill the game.

"However, 2-0 is always a dangerous score. Once they pulled a goal back they had momentum and we couldn't get that back.

"Hopefully it will be a kick up the backside for us and a lesson that we will learn."

Steeton dropped to third in the table but have a chance to climb back up when Wibsey visit Summerhill Lane on Wednesday.

Steeton: Mahomet, Mason, Scott, Morgan, Rooke, Flaherty (Hird), Holden, Sowerbutts, Clarkson, Yates, Park (Briggs).