West Riding County Amateur League: Ovenden 3 Steeton 0

HAVING hit seven the week before, Steeton were brought back down to earth with a bump by a Steve Senior hat-trick.

Things couldn’t have got off to a worse start when Sam Rooke had to turn back en route to the game after his daughter (who is thankfully okay) was rushed to hospital.

Alistair Morgan came into the side in the only change from the team that thrashed Hunsworth, while Casey Dowthwaite and Sam Fox were late travellers to ensure Steeton named a full contingent on the bench.

Steeton started brightly with Andy Briggs going close and Michael Rhodes and Andy Holden combining well on the right and testing Ovenden’s debutant goalkeeper.

But in the hosts' first attack, a long ball over the top caught Steeton flat-footed and Senior flicked the ball over the advancing Wayne Mahomet to make it 1-0. Mahomet did well a minute later to push the ball away for a corner.

The visitors looked to get back into the game as Holden's snap-shot went over in a half that threatened to boil over, with Dec Consoli being picked out for some pretty tasty challenges.

With half-time looming, Steeton suffered a double blow as Steve Pearson under-hit a back pass and Senior nipped in for his second. Things got worse a minute later as Lee Thompson suffered a shoulder injury and was replaced by Fox, with Briggs given a deeper role.

The second half saw Steeton on the front foot for periods, with Tim Hird working overtime in the middle of the park. His shot was his side's first on target.

Just as it looked as if they could get back into the game, Senior was left with a free header from a corner and he made the game safe for Ovenden. It was tough pill for Steeton to swallow and didn’t reflect the balance of the game.

Lee Reilly then struck a post and Holden curled a free-kick just over the bar.

Boss Roy Mason said: "It was one of those days where nothing went right for us and we couldn't have been more unlucky with losing Sam Rooke before the game and Lee Thompson before the break.

"It was frustrating as all three goals were down to lapses in concentration rather than Ovenden creating and could have been avoided. That said, we also didn't create enough in the final third.

"On a positive Adam Smith has rejoined the club in a coaching capacity and his experience and help will be vital in the remaining games this season."

Steeton host Lepton Highlanders in the League Cup on Saturday (1.45pm)

Steeton: Mahomet, Rhodes, Morgan, Meegan, Pearson, Hird, Holden, Consoli (Dowthwaite), Thompson (S Fox), Reilly, Briggs.