Steeton boss Roy Mason expressed his delight after the decision to play an extra league game over Easter paid dividends.

The Chevrons opted to play on Bank Holiday Monday, just 48 hours after their Keighley Cup semi-final win over Oxenhope, and they were rewarded with a 2-0 victory at Golcar.

It was the only West Riding County Amateur Leauge top-flight fixture to take place that day and saw Steeton extend their lead at the top to 11 points as they go in search of a first-ever Premier Division title.

Mason said: “There was the option of playing on Monday and only ourselves and Golcar took it up.

“It was a Bank Holiday and some of the lads had been celebrating our Keighley Cup win, so it could have back-fired.

“But we were happy to stick our necks on the block and try to put three more points in the bank and it paid off.”

Teams in the chasing pack – including reigning champions Ovenden West Riding and Bay Athletic, who won the title four times in a row prior to last season – have enough games in hand to overtake Steeton.

But Mason would rather have points in the bag.

He said: “It will take a monumental effort from some teams to catch up and I know where I’d rather be.

“Some of our rivals are likely to have two games a week until the end of the season, if not more.”

The Chevrons chief believes strength in depth has been the key to their success so far this season, which sees them chasing silverware on three fronts, including the Premier Division League Cup in which they are due to face Golcar again in the semi-final.

They were able to rotate the squad after their Keighley Cup triumph last Saturday, bringing Lee Reilly, Andy King and Patrick King in for the Monday victory.

Mason said: “No matter who is playing we still look strong and that is the difference from last year.”

It promises to be an exciting climax to the campaign as the Summerhill Lane side look to make history by winning the league.

But Mason insists everyone at the club remains grounded.