WE are barely a quarter of the way through the football season, but it has already been a rollercoaster ride for Steeton.

The Chevrons have been scoring goals for fun, but have also shipped them at an alarming rate too, with long-serving boss Roy Mason admitting things were getting on top of him somewhat.

But the clouds are clearing, and he is feeling positive again after seeing his side pick up a superb 3-0 home win over Cleator Moor Celtic in the NWCFL First Division North last time out to move up to 15th in the table.

Mason said: "It had been a tough, frustrating start to the season.

"We'd let a few points slip late on, and off the field, people don't realise the sacrifices you have to make as a manager at this level.

"It's a seven day week, and you don't always feel like you're getting a lot back, which is challenging to deal with.

"But football is a strange game, and suddenly it's all looking rosy again after that win over Cleator Moor.

"I've said to my players, for my own well-being, I need to try not to be so high when we win, and low if we lose, but when you're passionate about winning and the team you're managing it's hard.

"I think our squad is really good this year, and with that, and the way we've played, I feel we should be higher in the table than we are."

Kayle Price is one of the team's stars in attack, and Mason said: "Kayle's done really well while he's been here, and we've spent a lot of time working with him.

"We always said if he could add more goals to his game, it'd be another box he'd ticked off.

"He's having one of those runs at the moment where everything's going in, but he's had unlucky barren spells before so he deserves this.

"He's been staying behind at training for extra finishing practice and his partnership with Andy Briggs is working really well this season."

There are more positives on the personnel front too, with Mason saying: "We've brought in Tom Robinson, who was at Campion, and he's an excellent midfielder to have.

"But I'm also pleased that we have two 18 year olds, Joe Snowden and Harris Khan, who've come through our junior ranks to make their first team debuts this season.

"It's good for the club and community to have local young players in our first team."

It remains to be seen whether the duo will play a part in Steeton's league match at sixth-placed Ashton Town this weekend.

Discussing Saturday's opponents, Mason said: "Ashton are a decent side, but they've just changed their manager, so that may have an impact.

"If you look at the table, the top five are breaking away a bit, but from Ashton downwards, there's nothing between us all.

"On their day, anybody can beat anybody from sixth to the bottom."