Steeton finished off their debut season in the North West Counties First Division North with a draw as an Aaron Davis brace saw them share the points with AFC Darwen at a damp Cougar Park on Saturday afternoon.

Steeton started the game on the front foot and had chances to open the scoring with Toby Jeffrey and Ben Clarkson both going narrowly wide.

Both sides began the game playing very open and attacking football, with the teams having some very good chances to score goals.

The visitors also had efforts to find the target, only a fine save by Tidswell denied Leon Creech's effort from distance. Aspen Feathers wasted two good opportunities for the travelling side, but he put the ball over the bar from a couple of yards out with both of his shots.

Jeffrey again had another free kick in a dangerous position that was fired just off target.

The visitors again had an opportunity to open the scoring but Darwen's top scorer fired a shot wide under pressure from a home defender.

The Darwen defence did eventually break as the hosts had the ball in the net. Toby Rawcliffe drilled a free kick under the wall to Aaron Davis who turned and fired in the opener from close range just after the half-hour mark.

The visitors deservedly levelled the game through Matthew Cain. The midfielder got the ball in the attacking half before unleashing an unstoppable shot that beat Tidswell in the Steeton net with 40 minutes played.

Davis had a chance to add to his tally at the end of the first half as Jeffrey, who was causing problems for the visiting defence down the right wing before finding a cross which Davis fired just wide.

Steeton came out of the blocks quickly in the second half as Angus Maney found his way in on goal but his chipped effort floated just over the bar.

The visitors doubled their lead on 54 minutes as captain Kiel Lonsdale headed the ball past Tidswell from a set piece.

The hosts were gifted with a lifeline as the ref awarded Steeton a penalty when Clarkson was brought down in the area. Clarkson picked himself up to take it but it was a poor penalty which was saved by Jordan Gidley in the Darwen goal.

Steeton levelled the scores again through Davis. Gidley was caught in no man's land as he sprinted out of his goal to try clear a through ball, but Davis got to the ball and cheekily lobbed the stranded keeper after 75 minutes.

Substitutes Luke Baldwin and Graham Holmes had chances to give Steeton the lead again but both players shots went wide.

The visitors ended the game with 10 men as captain Lonsdale received a second yellow for a lunge on Sam Rooke with 2 minutes left of normal time to play.

If Steeton had taken their chances, they could have and possibly would have won the game, but in the end, a draw was a fair reflection of the match. Manager, Roy Mason will be happy how his side coped throughout the season. Everyone at the club will be pleased how the side has faced up to the challenge at playing semi-professional football and the comfortable 15th place, a lot higher than where everyone expected them to finish.