STEETON captain Jerry White could not have wished for a better end to his footballing career on Saturday, scoring his first and only goal for the Chevrons in their 4-2 win at home to Bacup Borough in the final match of the NWCFL First Division North season.

Speaking in his programme notes before the fixture, the non-league stalwart asked fans to keep their fingers crossed for a goal or clean sheet, and he was unable to believe his luck after being in the right place to volley in his first goal for the club after half an hour.

Needing a win – and results elsewhere going their way – to secure a play-off place, Bacup hit back after the break, but quick-fire strikes from Kayle Price and Andy Briggs secured a deserved win for the hosts and a highest-ever finish for Roy Mason’s side.

White was given a guard of honour from both teams before kick-off, and his side started well, carving out the first chance of the match in the 13th minute.

A corner from the left was delivered into the box towards centre-back Alistair Morgan, who saw his strike cannon off the underside of the crossbar before being cleared by the visiting defence.

Playing four matches in less than a week had taken its toll on the visitors, who struggled to keep up with their fresher opponents, with Price, Briggs, and Callum Buttle all drawing saves from the impressive Harry Turner in the minutes that followed.

Steeton’s blushes were spared when Anthony Hall somehow fired wide when one-on-one with Jordan Moorhouse midway through the half, but the hosts were deservedly in front just four minutes later.

Luke Baldwin delivered a corner to the near post, where White was left unmarked to send a left-footed volley into the bottom corner for his first-ever goal in Steeton colours in a remarkable tale of events.

Bacup introduced Toby Wright and Aidan Hussey into the attack at the break and spectacularly found themselves on level terms in the 53rd minute.

Neat build-up play down the right flank saw the ball flicked on to Lewis-Simon Byrne on the edge of the box, with the striker making no mistake to power a first-time volley into the bottom corner.

Moorhouse got down well at the near post to deny Byrne his second from the restart but momentum was still firmly with the Chevrons, and they restored their lead seven minutes later.

A free-kick deep inside the Bacup half was sent towards Briggs, who played a one-two with Price before unleashing a thunderbolt from the edge of the box into the bottom left corner.

Price then netted himself, meeting Mo Farhan Subhani’s teasing cross to tap in his 31st goal of the season and extend Steeton’s advantage.

Jake Townsend came off the bench with 15 minutes ago, making his return to the club after leaving AFC Darwen.

With nothing to lose, and results going against them, Bacup began to throw caution to the wind, hitting the bar with a free-kick before Wright pulled a goal back from a somewhat contentious penalty with 10 minutes remaining.

But that didn’t deter the hosts, Price scoring his second in the 86th minute after being played in by a sublime first touch from Baldwin to move himself level with Golcar’s Ash Flynn in the race for the golden boot.

Briggs and substitute Joe Snowden came close to adding a fifth for Steeton in injury time, but a third consecutive win was never in doubt for the hosts, who finished the season in a respectable 12th position.

All attention now turns to the first round of the Macron Cup tomorrow evening, where the Chevrons face off against Barnoldswick Town at the Silentnight Stadium (kick-off 7:45pm).