STEETON kept up their recent run of good form with a dramatic 1-1 draw at home to North West Counties Football League First Division North leaders Pilkington.

Despite the Chevrons having the better of the chances throughout the contest, it appeared the visitors from Merseyside would keep their 100 per cent winning record intact when they netted the opening goal of the contest in the 91st minute.

However, six minutes into added time, a screamer from 25 yards out courtesy of Jordan Townend made sure Roy Mason’s side earned a well-deserved point.

After the fairly even opening exchanges, the home side were then left wondering how they had failed to open the scoring.

First, Pilkington goalkeeper Matt Slevin, who was in fine form all day, made a solid stop from a Josh McKiernon volley.

Mo Farhan Subhani then thought he had scored for a third consecutive game as his effort came down off the underside of the crossbar, but it did not quite cross the line.

Slevin made comfortable stops to deny both McKiernon and Townend as Steeton pushed for the first goal of the afternoon.

A late challenge on Steeton new boy Danny Warren forced him from the pitch after 28 minutes, before Pilkington produced their first real chance of the afternoon through Callum Preston, the midfielder volleying wide from a corner.

The visitors then got in behind the Steeton defence but a superb block by the debuting Nathan Tayo stopped the attack from the men in pink from progressing any further.

Another superb Slevin save denied Andy Briggs on the brink of half-time after a great break down the right wing from Josh Walne.

Pilkington started the second half brightly, Callum Laird firing over before Bebeto Gomes appealed for a penalty despite it looking as though he had slipped over in the box.

Foley Nkem then put an ambitious effort from the edge of the area just over the bar as Steeton got themselves back into the arm wrestle.

The visitors won a free kick in a promising position on the hour mark, but Bruno De Almeida Severino's effort comfortably cleared the crossbar

The league leaders continued to turn the screw but were met by a stubborn visiting defence, as Omar Anjum, Jack Lynn and Jonny Hodgkinson all cleared immediate threats in quick succession.

Briggs, who had scored seven goals in his previous three outings leading into this game, was denied once more by a great low save by Slevin, before heading inches wide of the near post from a corner.

And the Steeton skipper must have wondered what more he had to do score when his effort from the edge of the area hit the post.

The game appeared to be heading for a goalless draw as injury-time approached as Hodgkinson volleyed a corner over the bar, and some superb defending from Pilkington denied Briggs, Townend, Subhani and Anjum in a crazy goalmouth scramble.

However, Pilkington appeared to have snatched all three points when Chris Lomax beat the offside trap from a long ball forward and struck the ball inside the far post on the turn.

But in dramatic fashion, in added time to added time, Steeton launched one final attack from a Josh Walne throw.

Nelson Digbeu thought he had averted the danger by hooking the ball away from his own goal.

But the clearance landed at the feet of Townend, who took a touch before smashing the ball into the top corner from 25 yards.

It was his first goal since returning to the club earlier this month, and it sparked wild scenes of joy at Marley.

Steeton, unbeaten in their last four games in all competitions, host Bacup Borough in the league on Saturday.

In-form Bacup are eighth in the 18-team table, with Steeton sitting in 11th, four points clear of the relegation zone.