Taylor's Timber West Riding County Amateur League Premier Division: Lower Hopton 2 Steeton 0

STEETON went down to their first defeat of the season, with Lower Hopton striking either side of half-time.

However, the visitors started brightly, with Lee Thompson pulling his shot narrowly wide of the far post after Tom Sowerbutts had put him through.

Sowerbutts also went close but he would have scored later via a tap-in had Lee Reilly, who did well to control Andy Holden's cross, rolled the ball to him rather than shoot.

With the minutes ticking down to the interval, Steeton fell to a sucker punch against the run of play, failing to deal with a ball over the top to leave Lee Turner with a tap-in at the far post.

The hosts almost made it two, striking a post within two minutes of the second half starting, but Steeton were also indebted to keeper Wayne Mahomet for two fantastic saves as Lower Hopton looked dangerous every time the ball went over the top.

With Steeton throwing men forward in an attempt to find a leveller, it was the home side who scored as a ball across the area was met by Nathan James, who fired home to effectively clinch the points.

Steeton threw on Sam Fox and Josh Metcalfe in a vain attempt to draw, and Metcalfe did well to beat two men but pulled his shot wide.

It was a disappointing performance considering the first two displays of the season, but with teams beating each other this season, it looks as if it could be wide open this time around, with a few clubs capable of mounting a challenge.

Steeton manager Roy Mason agreed that there are no clear favourites, saying: “Huddersfield YMCA will probably be everyone’s bet to finish top, but they have lost one or two, and with Ovenden going I can see Halifax Irish being stronger but I don’t think anyone will run away with it as YMCA did last season.

"However, we need to be better than we were here if we are to mount a challenge.

"We need to produce the kind of performance we did last Wednesday if we are to be successful, but with two home games on the trot now we have the opportunity to put some points on the board and establish ourselves in the top three at this early stage of the season."

Steeton hosted Campion last night before facing DRAM Community on Saturday (2.30pm).