KAYLE Price’s injury-time screamer helped Steeton steal three points at the death with a 2-1 win against local rivals Ilkley Town in the NWCFL First Division North on Saturday.
The winning goal, volleyed in from 25 yards in the first minute of added time, was a just reward for the Chevrons’ efforts and condemned Ilkley - who slip into the relegation zone - to their fifth consecutive loss by a single goal.
Steeton had earlier opened the scoring through Luke Baldwin in the eighth minute before former Chevrons defender Elliot Scott came back to haunt his old side after crossing for captain Harry Brown to tap in the equaliser on the stroke of half-time.
Before that, the home side had also taken to the field wearing shirts in support of local mental health charity It's Worth Talking About, for their first ever mental health awareness match.
A change to a 4-4-2 formation saw Jack Lynn playing in a more advanced role down the right-wing, and he caused Ilkley problems from the off, drawing two saves from Tim Edney before setting up the opening goal inside ten minutes.
Intercepting the ball on the wing, he sent a looping cross to the far post that was palmed into the path of Baldwin, who made no mistake to fire into the bottom corner from close range at the second attempt.
Edney was called into action to deny Lynn twice soon after as the lively winger continued to impress, but despite the hosts winning a series of corners, the Baht’atters’ defence stood firm.
Despite the visitors beginning to play some attractive football, it was Steeton who would have the ball in the back of the net for a second time with 29 minutes gone, Andy Briggs slotting under Edney before a controversial late offside flag spared the visitors’ blushes.
George Gomersall came close to levelling the scores minutes later after flashing a volley wide of the far post, while at the other end Baldwin came close to doubling his, and Steeton’s, tally with a free-kick that cleared the crossbar, as chances went begging for both sides.
But it would be the visitors who had the last word before the interval after Scott evaded a challenge down the left before delivering a teasing cross for Brown to slot home under the onrushing Cam Perron, who had been left with little to do up until to that point.
Steeton continued to pressure the Ilkley defence after the break, with some heroic defending somehow keeping out Baldwin, Briggs, Price, and Lynn after pinball in the box within three minutes of the restart.
Edney was perhaps fortunate not to have conceded a penalty after felling Briggs in the box five minutes later, but it was Ilkley who came closest to completing a shock comeback after top-scorer Kevin Gonzalez found himself one-on-one with Perron, but the young American stopper was quick off his line to clear the danger.
Price and Joe Snowden shot wide and saw efforts blocked respectively as Steeton pushed everyone forward, but that left them exposed at the back, and they had Perron to thank for denying Ilkley a late winner with a superb save from distance.
But it was to be the Chevrons’ day, and they would find a goal seemingly out of nowhere to spark wild celebrations on the sidelines.
Mo Farhan Subhani sent a hopeful ball forward that was headed by a defender towards Price, who chested the ball down before volleying an unstoppable strike from 25 yards across goal and into the bottom left corner.
Ilkley threatened another late goal after catching Perron off his line, but Steeton held on to claim a priceless victory that moves them up to 12th, ahead of a trip to last-placed St Helens Town on Saturday.
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