Kirkburton 3 Steeton 3

Under normal circumstances Steeton would be happy to come back from Kirkburton with a West Riding County Amateur League Premier Division point from what is always a difficult trip.

However, with the Summerhill Lane side three goals to the good with only 15 minutes to play, the draw felt more like a defeat after Kirkburton launched a late rally.

Steeton made the ideal start when Chris Simpson broke in from the left and found Arley Barnes unmarked to volley past keeper Richard Kellett.

Josh Smith struck just over the bar at the other end before Andy King curled a great free-kick that Kellett did well to tip over. Andy Holden forced a great block from Damien Sykes and King was narrowly wide from another free-kick as Steeton took control of a game not helped by the swirling wind.

Phil Rishton was down sharply at his near post as the home side tried to get back on level terms before the interval.

The second half saw immediate pressure from Kirkburton, who were looking for the more direct route to goal.

But it was Steeton who grabbed the initiative when they doubled their lead.

Michael Rhodes played a superb ball through the home defence and Jamie Longley cut in from the right and somehow squeezed the ball in at the near post, with Kellett expecting the ball to be pulled back across the face of goal.

Things got even better for the visitors when Simpson fed Longley, after the hosts were caught short at the back, and he drilled home his second from just inside the box.

Matty Kershaw sent over an inviting cross but Damien Whiteoak just failed to get the right connection on an effort that would have sealed the game.

Rishton was called into action for the first time in the half as he did well to block Dan Ingham’s effort. However, he was unlucky a minute later when he blocked Smith’s effort but, as he looked to grab the rebound, lost his footing and Ingham had the easiest of tasks in reducing the arrears.

With only five minutes remaining Steeton failed to clear a corner and Sam Rooke was adjudged to have fouled Smith in the resulting scramble. Ingham tucked away the resulting spot-kick.

Steeton should have still seen the game out but, with only a minute left, a long punt into the box found Ingham again.

As he brought the ball down, Rooke barged him over and referee Leadbetter had no hesitation in awarding a second penalty, which was again dispatched by Ingham to Rishton’s right.

Steeton were gutted but they did increase their lead at the top to two points as Hall Green lost at home to Golcar.

Boss Roy Mason said: “It certainly felt like a defeat after looking like we had the game won and we could, and should, have been even further ahead.

“But it wasn’t to be and we have still only lost one game all season. We would have settled for four wins and a draw from our first five away fixtures at the start of the season.”

This Saturday (2pm) Steeton host West Yorkshire League side Whitkirk Wand-erers in the first round of the West Riding County FA Challenge Cup.

Steeton: Rishton, Rhodes, A King, Lonsdale, Rooke, Whiteoak, Holden (McGee), Barnes, Simpson (J Kershaw), Longley, M Kershaw.

Steeton reserves’ home fixture against Tingley was called off as the visitors could not raise a team.