Maghull Edge out Steeton to Maintain Top Sport
Saturday, August 30, 2025 saw the 1st team in action at Steeton in the NWCFL 1st Division North.
Match Summary: Maghull FC, the league leaders, secured a hard-fought 3-1 away victory over Steeton AFC, although the win at Marley Stadium was not without controversy and a second-half wobble. The result saw Maghull continue their superb start to the season and remain at the top of the league table.
Maghull started the match brightly, putting the pressure on the home side early. After Steeton captain Arley Barnes made a crucial early clearance to deny a perfect start for the visitors, Steeton’s Jake Townsend then dragged a promising chance just wide of the post.
However, Maghull’s persistent pressure paid off midway through the first half. Breaking quickly through the Steeton midfield, Maghull skipper Harrison Worden cut the ball back across the goal where Sam Smith was on hand to fire home in the 24th minute, opening the scoring.
Smith doubled his, and Maghull’s, tally shortly before the break in the 38th minute. A long ball over the top was met with a fine touch by Smith, who then expertly lobbed the ball over the head of Steeton keeper Brad Emmerson.
The hosts felt aggrieved in added time when a corner was bundled around the box, with calls for a goal from Keann Shaw being waved away by the officials. Maghull nearly punished them on the counter, but Emmerson produced a superb acrobatic save to keep the score at 0-2 going into half-time.Second Half: Steeton Fight Back, but Maghull Seal the Win
Steeton came out with renewed vigour in the second half and were helped by an unlikely source to halve the deficit in the 70th minute. Substitute Jack Lynn launched a cross toward the far post, which, aided by the wind, sailed past the Maghull goalkeeper and into the net.
With the score at 1-2, the game became tense and fraught with controversy. Steeton were denied an equaliser on two separate occasions when efforts from both Aidan Kirby and Lewis Gartland were ruled not to have crossed the line, to the vocal dismay of the home support. Frustration peaked when strong appeals for a penalty after a Maghull defender handled a Kirby volley were waved away by the referee.
Despite Steeton’s pressure, Maghull ultimately sealed the three points deep into stoppage time. Following a long throw into the box, a flick-on allowed Nathan Moffitt to bend the ball past Emmerson and into the top corner in the 90th+8 minute, ensuring a 3-1 final score and a vital away win for the league leaders.
Goal Scorers:
Maghull:
Sam Smith – 24, 38
Nathan Moffitt – 90+8
Steeton:
Jack Lynn – 70
LeaseCar.uk Player of the match: Jamie Clarke
Match Highlights: Steeton 1 v 3 Maghull
Next Game: 06/09/2025 – Thornton Cleveleys – A – 15:00
