Maine Road 4

Steeton 0

IT was another cup defeat for Roy Mason's Steeton side as Maine Road thrashed the Chevrons in the first round of the Macron Sports Cup.

The first chance came the way of the hosts but they found Alfie Stevens-Neale in good form, with the stopper getting down low for a one-on-one and diverting the ball away from the goal.

On 18 minutes came the first goal. The centre-half for Maine Road got away from Ben Clarkson before spreading the ball wide, the ball went into the box from there and the striker was left unmarked to head home from a few yards out.

Steeton ventured forward for the first time, as the look to break back immediately. Clarkson's header went out wide, Toby Jeffrey picked up the scraps but no-one could meet his cross in the middle of the park.

Six minutes after their first, Maine Road doubled their advantage. This time, a set-piece was headed away by Joe Mason, but then the visitors failed to deal with the ball back into the box as the ball was driven low into the corner and past Stevens-Neale.

Steeton then had a route back into the game. Angus Maney was fouled from behind and they had themselves a penalty. Aaron Hollindrake stepped up from centre-half but his blasted effort was saved by the keeper who recovered to thwart the rebound.

Stevens-Neale took the acclaim of all inside the ground and on the benches as he made a magnificent save to keep Steeton in the tie.

A minute after that it was another Maney run, he pulled the ball back for Andy Briggs but he didn't make the desired connection as we drew closer to the break.

Two became three just a minute before half-time. They overloaded on the left, the shot came in, initially saved by Stevens-Neale but the rebound was smashed in to perhaps put the game beyond those in green.

Steeton started the second half with intent, a couple of half-chances went begging.

Mason's attempted cross almost evaded the goalkeeper who watched it well under his crossbar.

Steeton had a lot of the territorial advantage in the second-half. Gary Driscoll's introduction for Mason meant a change in formation, coupled with Aaron Davis on the pitch for his debut.

Despite this it was the hosts who properly threatened, with 25 minutes to go. Another one-on-one effort was saved by Stevens-Neale, before an attempted overhead kick by Driscoll went awry.

Ben Cox's introduction from the bench for his debut looked to signal some intent from Mason, to get back into the game. However despite that, nothing came off for Steeton despite playing largely in the hosts' half.

Tim Hird and Ben Richardson came more and more imperative as Steeton searched for a route back in, but the creative forces, such as Jeffrey and Maney, were thwarted, despite their best attempts.

Steeton went into six minutes of added time, perhaps with a goal still in mind, but as they pushed forward, the hosts broke and added a fourth despite the best efforts of Elliot Scott on the line.

Steeton: Stevens-Neale, Mason (Driscoll 59), Scott, Morgan, Hollindrake, Hird (c), Jeffrey, Richardson, Briggs (Cox 72), Clarkson (Davis 44), Maney. Unused: Smith.