Lower Breck 5

Steeton 1

STEETON fell to a five-star performance from Lower Breck on a chilly afternoon on a 3G pitch just outside Anfield in Hallmark Security League Division One North.

Attacker Ste Milne was outstanding, scoring once and assisting on the other four goals.

In only the second minute Milne latched on to a defensive error and saw his shot parried by the goalkeeper straight to Paul Mooney, who converted.

Within a couple more minutes Milne was working the other flank, once again seeing his shot saved, only for Oscar Billington to snap up the rebound for 2-0.

Once the Chevrons had steadied themselves and started to get back into the game they found the hosts well organised and tough to break down, the first shot on target coming from Aaron Hollindrake after 40 minutes.

Meanwhile, Lower Breck were creating chances with slick passing and good movement, with striker Jamie Henders having four opportunities but being thwarted by the excellent Steeton goalkeeper Joe Mash three times and shooting just over on the other.

It looked as though the storm had been weathered but, right on half-time, Milne dribbled down the left wing, went round the defender and this time rifled it home from a tight angle.

Steeton started the second-half strongly, clearly believing that overturning a 3-0 deficit against the Liverpudlians was possible.

Toby Jeffrey’s low free-kick forced home keeper Josh Molloy into action, then he doubled his workload with a flying save from Hollindrake’s header.

However, on 56 minutes the hosts responded with the move of the game, and goal number four – Jay Colbeck pinging a long pass to Milne, whose pin-point cross from the right wing was headed home by the incoming Mick Douglas.

The visitors kept trying to play decent football on the fast surface, Aaron Davis providing much of the flair from left midfield.

Davis forced a couple of saves from Molloy, with substitute Ben Clarkson and Tim Hird also getting shots on target.

All to no avail, and then man-of-the-match Milne rubbed it in by fooling the defence and assistant referee to spring the offside trap before crossing for sub Peter Donnelly to fire home for 5-0.

To their credit, Steeton deserved something from their part in a fine afternoon of touch-football and were gifted a penalty in injury time when home skipper Ricky Ager handled – teenage striker Clarkson took responsibility and slotted home the penalty.

Lower Breck: Molloy, Morton, Kinsella, Swatton, Ager, Douglas, Colbeck, Mooney, Milne, Henders, Billington. Subs: Donnelly, Darcy, Hill

Steeton: Mash, Rooke, Scott, Morgan (Cox 65), Pearson, Hird, Jeffrey, Grogan, Briggs, Hollindrake (Clarkson 65), Davis