West Riding County FA Challenge Cup semi-final: Steeton 0 Boroughbridge 1

STEETON bowed out in a game of few chances at the hands of West Yorkshire League Division One outfit Boroughbridge on the artificial pitch at County headquarters in Woodlesford.

The only goal was scored by Shane Butlin on seven minutes after a scramble in the Chevrons goalmouth.

Steeton strived hard for an equaliser but were unable to really test veteran former Ripon City manager Alistair Hogg in the Boroughbridge goal as their opponents defended stoutly.

Graham Holmes came closest on the half-hour mark but his fine diving header went just wide.

Boroughbridge almost doubled their lead early in the second half when Steeton's Olly Hunter brought down Dan Clayton in the penalty area. However, thanks to goalkeeper Wayne Mahomet, who dived smartly to his right to save the resulting penalty, the deficit remained one.

Steeton's leading scorer Lee Reilly almost scored an equaliser but his attempt to hook home a cross from the left saw the ball strike the upright and bounce to safety.

Mark Burniston broke free after a long clearance from the Boroughbridge half but his attempt to lob Mahomet brought another smart save from the goalkeeper, who caught the ball when it appeared to be beyond his reach.

Mahomet immediately launched a huge kick which found Andy Holden on the right wing and his cross was headed narrowly over by Andy Briggs.

With the introduction of Tom Sowerbutts for Joe Mason, Steeton went to three at the back, pushing Hunter further forward. This switch almost bore fruit when Hunter swung over a cross which was deflected on to the crossbar by Hogg before being cleared.

With less than five minutes to go Holmes hit a rasping shot into the side-netting after a fine interchange of passes down the right for what turned out to be Steeton's last meaningful attack.

In the last minute, the referee awarded Boroughbridge a free-kick on the edge of the box which went around Steeton's defensive wall and forced Mahomet to make an almost identical save to his earlier penalty save.

Steeton boss Roy Mason said: "You sometimes have to accept that it's not your day. It was a scrappy game with few chances for either team but, despite us dominating the possession, we didn't really look like scoring all night.

"I don't think the 3G pitch helped either as the surface was very thick and had more black pellets in than you'd normally expect on an artificial pitch."

Steeton: Mahomet, Mason (Sowerbutts), Hunter (Butterfield), Morgan, Pearson, Hird, Holden, Rhodes, Reilly, Holmes, Briggs (Yates).