Garstang 4

Steeton 2

STEETON'S winning start in Hallmark Security League Division One North came to a disappointing end as the Chevrons met West Lancashire 2017/18 champions, Garstang, who have their own winning start intact.

The away side started slowly as Kevin O'Connor had the first sight of goal, but his shot comfortably cleared the crossbar, before Alistair Morgan was required to make a last-ditch tackle to prevent the striker bearing down on goal.

Elliot Scott was beaten by his man before Alfie Stevens-Neale made his first save of the day.

Steeton's first half-chance came courtesy of Angus Maney. He latched on to a pass from midfield but, with no-one in support, he opted to shoot and his tame effort was easily saved by the goalkeeper.

The opening goal came on 16 minutes. Toby Jeffrey and Joe Mason combined on the right-hand side, the latter crossed deep towards the back post and stand-in skipper Aaron Hollindrake headed in from close range to give Roy Mason's side an early advantage.

The hosts attempted to respond through Billy McKenna, who drove through the Steeton midfield and fired over, not troubling Stevens-Neale.

Steeton kept working hard up-front, with Ben Clarkson supporting goalscorer Hollindrake as the two continually challenged the opposition centre-halves.

The next chance for Garstang resulted in the equaliser, some brilliant footwork by Ric Coar ended with him slotting past Stevens-Neale.

The Lancashiremen then took the initiative, first slamming the bar with a fierce drive before the ball sprung free and it was Sean Sailor quickest on the scene to fire his effort into the bottom corner from 20 yards out.

This quick turnaround prompted Steeton to push forward and mount more attacks, almost immediately they responded, they got a free-kick on the right-hand side, put in by Jeffrey, headed back across goal by Maney and Jordan Wilmore sliced his volley over the bar as the score remained 2-1.

The first-half eventually petered out in the last 15 minutes, with only McKenna having a meaningful shot at either goal, trying to catch Stevens-Neale out with an early effort which found only the side netting.

It was the hosts again who looked more likely to score, first of all Sailor missing from only a few yards, before Tom Entwistle put the ball wide when put through on goal.

Then came a contender for miss of the season. Stevens-Neale made a good initial save but his parry was met by McKenna, who had an open goal to aim at, but his wayward effort cleared the clubhouse.

It was the hosts dominating the second half, Stevens-Neale required again, this time at the near post as the score remained, until Steeton found an equaliser 15 minutes from time, Andy Lee, on for Joe Flaherty, for his first appearance of the season, with a stunning half-volley after Maney's inch-perfect pass follow Gary Driscoll's ball out wide.

However, it was only five minutes before the hosts re-took the lead. Greig Hudson was beaten by his man and it was Garstang sub, Ben Roberts, who scored from close range with 10 minutes left.

Unfortunately, Steeton couldn't get an equaliser and instead it was the hosts who added to their lead.

Stevens-Neale pushed forward late on in an attempt to get an equaliser, his free-kick from inside the Garstang half didn't beat the first man and they countered before Roberts rolled the ball in for his second of the game.

Steeton: Stevens-Neale, Mason (Hudson 70), Scott, Morgan, Leach, Flaherty (Lee 62), Jeffrey, Wilmore, Hollindrake (Driscoll 46), Clarkson, Maney. Unused: Smith.