West Riding County FA Challenge Cup: Headingley 2 Steeton 3

STEETON booked a fourth-round trip to league rivals Littletown following this entertaining win at their West Yorkshire League Premier Division hosts.

They were good value for their win but were let off the hook by Headingley, who missed two penalties.

Manager Roy Mason had the luxury of being able to name the same side in consecutive weeks for the first time this season.

The Chevrons started brightly and Lee Reilly could have given them an early lead as he latched onto Stephen Pearson’s long ball before cutting back inside but the home keeper did well to block his effort. Andy Briggs was narrowly wide after good work from Andy Holden.

At the other end Joe Mason made a last-ditch challenge that saw the home side appeal for a penalty but referee Dean Grant deemed him to have won the ball.

Steeton took a deserved lead when Reilly and Briggs combined and the latter rolled it under the advancing keeper.

The advantage could have quickly been wiped out though as the home side broke at pace and Wayne Mahomet had no option but to bring down the home side's winger as he looked to round him. Fortunately for Steeton, Headingley’s number 9 rolled the resulting spot-kick wide of Mahomet’s right-hand post.

In a bizarre spell the home side then were awarded another penalty following a rash challenge from Alistair Morgan. Again, the same player took responsibility but amazingly fired over the bar to give Steeton a second let-off.

Headingley equalised with a close-range header after a corner wasn’t defended properly.

The home side were now enjoying a spell of pressure. Tom Sowerbutts and Tim Hird were working overtime in the Steeton midfield keep them at bay.

With the clock ticking down, the Chevrons regained the lead. Olly Hunter, who was causing the home side no end of problems, crossed a ball in from the left-hand side and Briggs headed home.

Reilly was thwarted by the home keeper, Pearson headed into the side-netting and Ben Richardson fired just wide as Steeton grew in confidence.

The second half was barely five minutes old when the visitors increased their lead. A long ball from defence by Morgan saw Reilly race through on goal and he calmly drew the keeper before slotting home.

The goal knocked the stuffing out of Headingley and the game seemed to die as a contest, with Steeton looking the more likely to increase their lead.

Alex Yates headed narrowly wide from Holden’s corner but the hosts pulled a goal back with five minutes left to make it nervy.

Steeton boss Mason said: "It was a good performance and one that we could have maybe won more comfortably, but we did have a bit of luck with the two penalty misses."

Steeton: Mahomet, Mason (K Fox), Hunter (Clarkson), Morgan, Pearson, Hird, Holden, Sowerbutts, Reilly, Briggs (Yates), Richardson.

* Steeton Reserves also progressed in the County Trophy when Bradford Gateway failed to raise a team for their fixture. They host Halton Moor in the next round.

The Under-18s enjoyed a 7-1 win over Calverley United. Freddie Binns struck a hat-trick and Ben Clarkson and Toby Jeffrey both chipped in with a brace