Steeton Reserves 3

Lower Hopton 2

STEETON'S second string moved up to eighth in the West Riding County Amateur League with this victory over a spirited Lower Hopton side, who started the day in second place and remain so despite this defeat.

The early part of this highly entertaining game saw both goalkeepers - Joe Mash for the hosts and Jez Travers for the visitors - in fine form as they both pulled off superb saves to keep the scoresheet blank.

However, the deadlock was broken when Steeton took the lead thanks to a looping 20-yard header from Jack Morrall.

The lead did not last long as the visitors pushed forward and leading scorer Liam Royle notched up his ninth goal of the season to restore parity.

The equaliser spurred on the visitors and only timely interventions from defenders Duncan Steel and Grieg Hudson prevented them from taking the lead.

It was the hosts who went in a goal up at the interval after striker Will Knight slotted a superb effort past Travers.

The second half saw more attacking play from both sides, but it was Steeton who increased their lead when Casey Dowthwaite thumped in a superb shot from just inside the penalty area.

Still the visitors stormed forward and it was during one of their many late attacks that home goalkeeper Mash received a nasty gash to the forehead when punching out a dangerous looking cross.

After lengthy treatment Mash was helped from the pitch and Sam Rooke took over between the posts.

Lower Hopton saw this as an opportunity and although they did pull a goal back when a shot took a wicked deflection off a defender, Rooke made three good saves to hold on to the lead.

In the dying minutes the visitors were awarded two free-kicks on the edge of the penalty area, both of which struck the defensive wall and finally the final whistle sounded.

Steeton: Mash (Rooke), Flaherty, Steel, Storton, Hudson, Birks, Dowthwaite, Richmond, Morall, Knight (Lawn), Walker (Daniel). Unused subs: Fox & Burrows.