Steeton 1 Lower Hopton 1

Steeton gained a point in an entertaining draw against a slick Lower Hopton side who moved the ball around well.

This brought out the best in the hosts too as some of the passing was a pleasure to watch.

Steeton almost took the lead in the third minute when Lee Reilly fired a shot which was dealt with smartly by the Hopton keeper.

After Hopton had gone close, Mark McGee tried a snap shot from distance which went a whisker over the bar. A defensive mix-up almost let the visitors in but sterling work by Joe Park and Arley Barnes prevented a goal.

A close-range back pass forced Stuart Devlin into a hurried clearance which went directly to a Hopton forward, who blazed over what was probably the best chance of the half.

Steeton threatened with a dipping shot by Reilly and a goal-bound effort from Park, which was well saved, but the half remained goalless.

Devlin saved smartly from James Mortimer but the same player, who had an outstanding match, broke the deadlock after an hour when he slotted home as Steeton players stopped, expecting the referee to blow for an infringement.

Steeton went straight out for an equaliser and sub Josh Huntley combined well with Graham Holmes, who worked tirelessly to provide opportunities for team mates, only to be thwarted by a piece of brave goalkeeping.

Toby Rawcliffe hit a superb shot which brought the best save of the game but Hopton should have doubled their lead when a cross eluded Devlin but, with the goal at his mercy, the striker skewed his effort well wide.

This seemed to spur the hosts on and the pressure paid off when some fine interplay between Andy Holden and Holmes set up Huntley, who took the ball in his stride and rammed it into the roof of the net to secure parity.

Assistant manager Rob Horton was pleased with the performance but felt that the game had a bit of an end of season feel to it.

He said: "With neither side having anything to play for, it was always going to be a case of getting the fixture over with and it was important we kept up our recent performances of late and didn't pick up any injuries before Friday's Keighley Cup final."

Steeton: Devlin, Richmond, Park, Barnes, Rooke, Rawcliffe, Holden, Hird, Reilly (Huntley), Holmes, McGee.