Captain Tim Hird returned to action for Steeton after two months on the injured list and was straight into the thick of it, with a series of full-blooded tackles. The referee was struggling to maintain order as the game threatened to boil over with three yellow cards in the first 15 minutes.

Hostilities paused for some football to break out. The first wayward shots of the game coming from Steven Affleck on 18 minutes, blasting into orbit, and Aaron Hollindrake on 24, very wide. Midfielder Dillan O’Connor had the first credible chance, being well played through but shooting wide.

Steeton’s new three-man defence was working well but was breached with what proved to be the winning goal on 40 minutes. Good play by Oumar Camara set up Sam Riley at inside-right, he looked to shoot before crossing to Jack Ward on the left side to slot home. A further chance for Chadderton ended the half, but Liam Chambers failed to connect after more good work from Riley.

The second-half started with Steeton on the attack, Andy Holden forcing Hadlow to make his first proper save of the game, followed shortly afterwards by Toby Rawcliffe firing over the bar from the edge of the penalty box.

The key flashpoint arrived on 65 minutes when Tim Hird was dismissed for a second yellow card, and nearly got worse when Chadderton won a penalty ten minutes later after Camara was fouled, but the striker’s penalty was well saved by Fletch Paley, diving to his right.

Camara was causing Steeton problems on the break, beating the keeper with his next effort, but Freddie Maddocks cleared off the line.

The final 15 minutes saw the Chevrons pushing forward but a goal proved elusive with Hadlow safely collecting a series of crosses, and Grogan heading to him from close-range in added time.

Steeton battled well in a tough, defensive game with the 3-5-2 formation looking solid. However, they couldn’t conjure up the spark to break through and take the point they probably deserved.