North West Counties League First Division North
Steeton 2-1 Campion
The wait is finally over Steeton.
Marksmen Kayle Price and Andy Briggs delivered the elusive first league win of the campaign for Roy Mason’s men against lacklustre Campion on derby day at Marley Stadium.
Campion, whose season has began disappointedly, dominated the possession count but their strong attack failed to carve out chances and they literally paid the price.
Steeton were clinical when their two main chances presented themselves.
Price ensured Steeton were ahead at the break and Briggs sealed the three points in the final five minutes.
Former Shelley and Pontefract Collieries midfielder Dan Keane’s 93rd minute header was meaningless for Campion as only 30 seconds were left on the clock.
Much of the first stanza was played out in Steeton’s half.
Mark Ferguson’s long throw and multiple corners were the focal point for Campion – but all the pressure home goalkeeper George Bristol was a relatively quiet figure.
Campion looked pretty comfortable at the back.
However, that theory was blown apart when Steeton snatched the lead against the run of play in the 23rd minute.
Campion goalkeeper Liam Lovell came racing out of his goal and mis-judged the long ball.
Price found himself through on an empty goal and the striker was never going to miss.
Bristol then made a couple of saves from half-chances as Campion tried to respond with an instant reply.
Steeton finished the half stronger and Briggs will have rued placing a header from a good position wide.
Recent Steeton home games have seen the hour mark being the turning point for opposition sides.
That must have been in the back of people’s minds when Campion tried to mount huge pressure on their hosts in the early second half exchanges.
The visitors were certainly threatening and the ball was placed into dangerous areas.
But Bristol was rarely involved as the strong Steeton defence – led by veteran former Campion defender Ben Kendall who marked danger man Aiden Kirby out of the game – snuffed out nearly all bits of trouble.
A lack of imagination in the final third also played a part in Campion’s downfall.
The only moment where Steeton were truly breached was when Jay Carney hit the post after applying brute force to conjure up a chance.
Briggs missed the chance of the century to finish Campion off as the final 15 minutes dawned.
The powerful striker raced clear but somehow blazed high and wide as he approached Lovell.
It could have been a costly miss.
He soon made up for the sitter by scoring at the third attempt to seal the points.
Campion, now out of ideas, lost the ball down the left and the impressive Mo Farhan Subhani played the pass that enabled Briggs to take his time before firing past Lovell from inside the penalty area.
The only blip on Steeton’s copybook was the loss of the clean sheet right at the death after Keane nodded home a Campion free kick.
Deep down though, no-one really cared as the three points were needed desperately.
What They Said
Steeton manager Roy Mason
“I feel we deserved it.
“Maybe at times they had more possession but it was about time we had some luck and things go our way because certainly nothing has gone our way this season.
“I don’t think it was smash and grab at all.
“The only stats that really matter are the stats about the goals and we scored two and we scored one.
“I actually think that when you look at the chances we created the better chances than them.
“George (Bristol) didn’t have too many saves to make and we’re happy for teams to have the ball.
“If they’re playing with the ball in their own half it is not going to affect us.
“Yes they had the ball a lot in the final third but I thought we defended very well and did a solid job.”
Campion joint manager Lee Ashforth
“It is really frustrating at the minute.
“I don’t think we were particularly good enough in the first half.
“I thought we were good for 25 minutes of the second half.
“I just feel Steeton had more of a desire to win the game and we struggled.
“We looked like a team with no confidence and no confidence in front of goal.
“We’re conceding goals so we’re getting it wrong at both ends at the minute.
“Forget the fact we scored in the 95th minute – apart from that we huffed and puffed and we have to be better.”
The Teams
Steeton: Bristol, Morgan (captain), Marsh, Anjum, Kendall, Jeffrey, Subhani, McKiernon, Briggs, Price, Lynn (Preston 86). Subs unused: Scott, Kinuthia, Wignall.
Campion: Lovell, Carney, Hurles-Brook, Eastwood, Rhodes, Graham, Ramsden (Kearsley HT), Robinson, Ferguson (Keane 73), Kirby (captain), Day (Tailford 64). Sub unused: Sykes.
Who Was In Charge
Joshua Gordon (8/10)
How Many Were There
157
Man of the Match
Ben Kendall (Steeton)
If you have enjoyed reading Non League Yorkshire over the past few months, please consider making a donation to the not-for-profit organisation NLY Community Sport which provides sport for children and adults with disabilities and learning difficulties. CLICK HERE to visit the JustGiving page. There is a video at the bottom of the page showing our work.
NLY Community Sport, run by James Grayson and Connor Rollinson, has always had combatting social isolation at the top of our objectives when running our Disability Football teams.
Our work is playing an important role in reintroducing our players, who have disabilities and learning difficulties, back into society.
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