Huddersfield YMCA 5 Steeton 0

STEETON welcomed back key players as they travelled to the league leaders, who were going into the game on the back of their first defeat of the season while the Chevrons were looking to avoid their third loss on the bounce.

The visitors started with a 3-5-2 formation and soon switched to a more conventional 4-4-2 to combat the threat of the home side's attacking full backs. Sam Moore did well to hold a long-range effort before YMCA struck the top of the Steeton bar with a header.

At the other end Graham Holmes, making his first start of the season, spun in the box and fired narrowly wide. Jack Richmond then tested home keeper Graham McClachan with a long-range shot before Steeton had the best chance of the half as Joe Meegan fed Dec Consoli. He did well on the right-hand side and fed Lee Thompson, who fired narrowly over.

Moore was then down sharply at his near post as Huddersfield looked to gain the advantage before half-time. They were awarded a free-kick just outside the box and Nick Jagger rose highest to loop a header over Moore and in, despite Steve Pearson's best attempts to clear.

It changed the complexity of the game and, from the restart in the second half, Eddie Szostak swept home from a tight angle.

Steeton's confidence drained as YMCA quickly grabbed a third. Wayne Shooter was allowed too much time in the box and fired home before the aptly-named Shooter was in the right place to bag number four.

With Thompson and Tim Hird trying to drag Steeton back into it, their last throw of the dice was a triple substitution as Ryan Cox, Aaron Abbas and Tom Baker came on. Baker showed some nice touches and won the visitors a corner, from which Sam Rooke headed against the top of the bar.

However, the home side were awarded a penalty for handball when there seemed no way Rooke could get out of the way. Moore guessed correctly to save John McAliskey’s spot kick, only for the rebound to fall nicely into his path and he made no mistake with the second opportunity.

To make matters worse, Joe Park limped off with a fractured ankle and will be in pot for six weeks.

Steeton boss Roy Mason said: "We had a great 44 minutes and matched them all the way and were unlucky not to go a goal up.

"However, we switched off at the wrong time and paid the price. Hopefully we can start to get a more settled side together and that will lead to a bit more consistency."

This Saturday (2pm) Steeton host Horbury Town from the West Yorkshire League in the West Riding County FA Challenge Cup.

Steeton: Moore, Meegan (Baker), Park, Pearson, Rooke, Hird, Consoli (Cox), Thompson, Reilly, Holmes (Abass), Richmond.