Steeton 0 Lepton Highlanders 5

IT was a day to forget for Steeton as they suffered their heaviest home defeat of the season in the West Riding County Amateur League Premier Division.

Steeton made a couple of enforced changes to the side that drew at Littletown with Joe Mason returning to replace Michael Rhodes who was unavailable and new signing Elliot Scott was handed his first start.

The home side were also without leading scorer, Lee Reilly who had an eye problem.

Despite the changes, Steeton started off the quite well and Lee Thompson curled a shot just wide, while at the other end Wayne Mahomet tipped a shot over the bar and Alistair Morgan thwarted another attack with a last-ditch tackle.

Steeton's main threat came from Andy Holden's corners and Kyle Fox was unlucky to have a shot saved while Thompson's follow-up effort was smothered.

Andy Briggs had a great chance when he beat the offside trap but his lob over Lepton goalkeeper Danny Armitage just landed the wrong side of the post.

With time running out in the first half and with no obvious danger around him Sam Rooke passed the ball back to Mahomet without looking. Unmarked Lepton striker Jacob Robertson accepted the gift to give his side the lead.

Steeton had to change keepers at half-time with Danny Thorpe replacing Mahomet who was unable to continue.

The home side seemed to have a bit more purpose initially and Andy Holden fired over the bar before the home side made their second change with Ben Clarkson replacing Mason.

Good chances were proving to be at a premium and Steeton made their third change with Casey Dowthwaite replacing Declan Consoli.

Disaster struck for the home side when Thorpe misjudged a back pass and the ball bobbled under his foot to Robertson who gratefully grabbed his second gift of the day.

The goal knocked the stuffing out of Steeton and they fell further behind when a long-range effort from Joe Dunstan evaded Thorpe and killed the game.

What was more worrying was the fact that Steeton lost all their shape and discipline.

Lepton added a fourth as Robertson completed his hat-trick before Gary Bradley rubbed salt into Steeton's wounds with a fifth goal in injury time.

Steeton's young side will need to grow up quickly in the remaining games of the season if Steeton are to avoid their worst league finish since they regained their top-flight status.

This Saturday they face a trip to Salts.

Steeton: Mahomet (Thorpe), Mason (Clarkson), Morgan, K Fox, Rooke, Hird, Holden, Thompson, Scott, Briggs, Consoli (Dowthwaite). Sub not used Holmes