Steeton u18s 3

Thackley u18s 1

STEETON Under-18s had to play their game against Thackley with only 10 men with three players unavailable with illness and work.

Thackley started the better of the two teams and, with the extra man, this worked well for them and seemed to rattle Steeton.

All the early pressure paid dividends when Steeton failed to clear a corner and the ball was fired home by the Thackley player. They should have made it two shortly after when their striker blasted the ball high over the bar from only six yards out.

Steeton nearly went level with good work from Will Kaye on the left wing, crossed for Harry Farnell who’s tame header went straight into the Thackley keeper's hands, but he was not to be denied.

Dominic Westcott won possession in midfield, flighted a lovely ball over the Thackley defence for Farnell to run onto and beat the onrushing Thackley keeper to the ball and slide the ball home into the empty net.

Steeton made it two with a lovely goal. Elliot Wilson in nets picked out Farnell on the left side of midfield, he in turn disguised his pass to debutant Jacob Cox 25 yards from goal, who played a first-time ball to a well-timed run from midfield from Tom Crossland who controlled and finished neatly at the near post.

Cox nearly got on the scoresheet with good work from Westcott and Farnell, who played a pass across the Thackley goal for Cox, who was challenged from behind just as he was about to tap the ball home but was deemed fair by the referee.

The second half saw Steeton with a lot more accomplished performance.

It was a kick from Wilson that nearly got Farnell his second goal. Holding off two defenders, he attacked Thackley's goal, went round the keeper, who forced him a little wide.

Normally he would slide the ball home, but he miscued his shot and put it wide of the left-hand post. Farnell was not to be denied, Crossland won a header in midfield, Farnell controlled, played a one-two with Westcott and fired home from 18 yards past the Thackley keeper.

Another debutant nearly made it four when a scrambled corner fell to Emmott. His strike came back of the left-hand post and out to safety.