Steeton fight hard but come up short against Droylsden

Despite a battling performance throughout, the visitors from Greater Manchester took their chances when it mattered to take home the three points in this North West Counties Football League First Division North clash.

In front of the largest crowd of the season to date at Marley Stadium, despite the result, it was another much-improved performance for Roy Mason and his side given the 6-1 defeat in the return fixture back in August.

The Chevrons came flying out of the traps on Saturday and their pressing game caused early problems for the passing game across the Bloods’ defensive line.

Josh Debenham came closest to opening the scoring for the hosts, but Jordan Latham was quick out of his goal to clear the opportunity.

Dan Illingworth found a volley at his mercy from a corner, but the centre half got his angles all wrong and skewed his shot across the face of goal.

The game then went through a lull as both teams struggled to gain a grasp or control, with a few niggly challenges leading to yellow cards for players in both green and red.

There was another opportunity for Steeton, however the effort from Owen Williamson dipped over the crossbar.

But on the brink of half-time, the afternoon’s opening goal went the way of the promotion-chasing visitors.

Hitting the home side on the counter attack, an exceptional ball was played across the park into the path of George Kattah.

Taking a touch to compose himself on the edge of the area, Kattah’s strike had enough power to find the top corner despite the best efforts of Brad Emmerson to try and tip the shot wide of the near post.

The Droylsden fans got their reward for making their trip across the Pennines to Steeton. (Image: Ian Meachin.)

The second half began with both sides creating a half chance, Droylsden wasted theirs immediately after the restart as they put a shot wide of the far post.

Latham then kept his team in the lead with an outstanding diving save to tip a goal bound header from Illingworth around the uprights for a corner.

Another save from Latham denied Arley Barnes and launched his side on a counter attack.

Once at the other end, Emmerson made a spectacular save to turn an effort from range away from goal and out for a corner as the Steeton defensive line struggled to get back into position.

Looking to find the equaliser, Steeton were eventually punished by a counter-attack in a carbon copy of the first goal.

This time Kattah turned provider, playing an exquisite ball across the face of the Steeton net, leaving the unmarked Nelson Vann to comfortably tap home into an empty net at the far post.

Now in the ascendency, Droylsden continued to push for a third goal but squandered numerous opportunities after working their way into position.

However, Mason’s team nearly halved the deficit and found a route back into the contest in accidental fashion.

Winning a free kick just inside the Droylsden half, Jacob Smith played a long ball forward to the box.

Caught by the wind, it very nearly dipped beneath the crossbar, but Latham again was wise and plucked the ball out of the air managing to keep it out of his goal under pressure.

The visitors instead found that third goal to end the game as a contest late on.

Kattah was played through one-on-one and again fired the ball home to send the away support into scenes of jubilation.

Another home game now awaits for Steeton on Saturday, as they entertain play-off hunting Ashton Athletic.