Lepton Highlanders 1 Steeton 1

Steeton were left grateful for a late Graham Holmes goal to salvage a point in a less-than-convincing performance.

With six regulars missing, Steeton were forced to shuffle the pack against the struggling hosts, with Andy Foster and George Sellars coming into the starting XI.

With the wind and driving rain not helping their cause, Phil Rishton had to be alert to tip the ball over the bar, while, at the other end, Andy Holden forced a flying save.

Danny McNulty and Josh Ferguson were working well on the left, and McNulty crossed for Andy King, who just failed to keep his header the right side of the bar.

Lepton were looking for a quick ball over the top. However, Steeton were rare-ly troubled but needed to play at a quicker tempo.

In the second period, the home side took an early lead, Nick Robinson neatly flicking the ball over Rish-ton.

This seemed to spur Stee-ton on as Tim Hird flashed a shot wide and Holmes appeared to be man-handled in the box, but the referee waved away their appeals.

Holden smashed another effort wide and, with time running out, it looked as if it was going to be a frustrating day.

But Michael Rhodes’ over-lapping runs finally paid off as his cross was deflected for a corner, and, from the re-sulting kick, Holmes head-ed the equaliser, despite the best efforts of the keeper.

Steeton had a couple of opportunities to win it, Rhodes’ cross striking the top of the bar and Hird firing over from Foster’s pull-back.

The visitors will be disappointed with a point as they know they can perform much better.

This Saturday, they entertain Littletown before heading to Woodlesford a week today to face Goole United in the semi-final of the West Riding County FA Chall-enge Cup (7.30pm).

Steeton have already filled one coach and are now selling tickets for a second.

They are £7 and are available from The Old Star, Steeton Newsagents, Keigh-ley Liberal Club and the Soldier and Sailors Club.

Steeton: Rishton, Rhodes, Ferguson, Sellars, Foster, Ogalbe (Denton), Holden, Hird, McNulty, Holmes, King.

* Ross Chapman, Euan Sessford and Martin Bland gave Steeton Reserves a 3-0 lead in Division One at home to Lower Hopton but the visitors hit back to win 5-3.