North West Counties League First Division North
Golcar United 3-1 Steeton
Daniel Naidole sparked title-chasing Golcar United into life with a spectacular late first half goal to kick-start the defeat of local rivals Steeton.
Golcar weren’t really at the races until a bolt of the blue from Naidole five minutes before half-time knocked Roy Mason’s Steeton for six.
One way traffic is the best way to describe the start of the second half and Golcar made the pressure tell thanks to Ash Flynn’s tap-in.
Top goal-scorer Kayle Price briefly dragged Steeton back into the contest before the impressive Buddy Cox dispelled their hopes of a comeback by scoring Golcar’s third.
The win is another big one for Golcar who literally cannot afford to drop points if they want to catch relentless and unbeaten leaders Bury AFC.
Steeton will rue not capitalising on a positive first half display.
The Keighley-based side caused Golcar problems, most notably when Price went through one-on-one with goalkeeper Harry Stead and uncharacteristically skewed his effort wide.
Cox had Golcar’s best first half opportunity, other than the goal.
He had a lots of space inside the penalty area but shot straight at Steeton goalkeeper Stuart Cross.
The first half was fading out when Golcar seized control of the game.
Although he was not closed down, Naidole hit a wonderful first time shot from outside the penalty into Cross’ left-hand bottom corner.
Golcar simply pushed on from there.
Ash and Gav Connor’s troops constantly bombed forward and Steeton were literally under siege.
Cross denied Cox with a smart save before the second goal arrived.
Steeton wanted a free kick for a ‘foul’ on young starlet Luke Baldwin but the referee waved the appeals away and the home side counter attacked.
Cox was the key man in the move as he beat a tumbling Allistair Morgan to the ball, allowing him to race towards the penalty area.
The striker took his time before firing the ball across goal to allow former Emley and Yorkshire Amateur striker Flynn to score into an empty net.
Price scored from a Steeton corner to hand his side an unlikely way back.
It wasn’t to be tough and Golcar again turned the screw.
Naidole leapt like a salmon to head towards goal from a Joe Skarz free kick, only to be denied by Cross’ heroics.
Skarz would set up the decisive third goal.
His cross was not properly dealt with by Steeton captain Jerry White who rather than smash it out of the ground, decided to chest it down inside the six-yard-box and hope his goalkeeper would collect it.
Cross didn’t and Cox nipped in to round off a solid win.
What They Said
Golcar United joint manager Ash Connor
“From our point of view I thought for the first 40 minutes we weren’t really at it and a bit lethargic.
“The quality wasn’t there.
“Just before half-time we managed to get our noses in front from a great finish by Danny Naidole.
“That gave us a bit of momentum and when the second half started we were the strongest team until we gave them the goal.
“It allowed them back in and it got a bit frantic at times but then we managed to finish it off.
“I think were the better team overall.
“Credit to Steeton, we’ve always had good battles with them.”
Steeton manager Roy Mason
“We felt we were the better side in the first half and we were certainly unlucky to go in at half-time 1-0 down.
“Whilst we had the better chances I don’t think we had too many clear-cut chances but again it was our decision-making and we got into positions where we could have rolled people in for tap-ins and we didn’t take them.
“Goals change games and (Golcar) have scored against the run of play to go one up but we were disappointed in the second half as I don’t think we came out (at the start).
“They went 2-0 up, personally I thought there was a foul in the build-up and we should have had a free kick on the halfway line.
“We didn’t get that decision but we still had time to deal with it and we didn’t.
“We got back into the game and you’re thinking a bit of momentum, let’s build on it but the third goal has killed us.
“No complaints from us, Golcar deserved the win.”
The Teams
Golcar United: Stead, Stocker (captain) (Stor 70), Starkey, Crane, Lawrence, Skarz, Barrett, Willitts, Flynn (Burnett 87), Cox (Phillip 90) Naidole, Subs unused: Henry, Hallam.
Steeton: Cross, Jeffrey, Lynn (Fenton 85), Morgan, White (captain), Snowden (Robinson 59), Subhani, McKiernon, Parchment, Price, Baldwin (Tailford 63).
The Referee (9/10)
How Many Were There
242
Man of the Match
Buddy Cox (Golcar United)
