Taylor's Timber West Riding County Amateur League Premier Division: Steeton 4 Salts 1

IT WAS not until the 22nd minute that the deadlock was broken in this entertaining encounter when some fine play down Steeton's left between Olly Hunter and Jonson Butterfield resulted in the latter crossing for a rejuvenated Graham Holmes to head home.

Ten minutes before the interval, Tom Sowerbutts' long-range effort was well saved by Salts keeper Danny Bailey, while, at the other end, the hosts were relieved to see Wayne Mahomet push aside a goal-bound free-kick and spectacularly tip over an effort on the stroke of Gareth Nutter's half-time whistle.

The second half was only five minutes old when Lee Rhodes equalised from a right-wing cross but parity lasted barely three minutes as Holmes broke down the right and fed Michael Rhodes, whose superb cross was nodded beyond Bailey by Lee Reilly.

On the hour, Mahomet parried a strike by Lee Rhodes, defender Alistair Morgan making a superb goal-line clearance when it looked easier to bag an own goal.

Four minutes later, after a scramble in the penalty area, the ball finally fell for Holmes, who stabbed it home.

Salts had four more strikes on goal – two going narrowly wide and two being well saved by Mahomet – before Hunter picked up the ball 20 yards inside his own half, surged upfield and fired into the bottom right-hand corner of the net to make the score 4-1 with only seconds to go.

Steeton defender Joe Mason, who was replaced by experienced defender Michael Rhodes, suffered a cut underneath an eyebrow after an accidental clash but was available for Saturday's match at Lower Hopton after the injury was glued and 'butterflied'.