Buddy Cox scored one and made one as Golcar United kept up the pressure on their promotion rivals with a 3-1 win over Steeton at the Skye Direct Stadium.

Cox turned in a Man of the Match performance setting up the second for Ash Flynn and rounding off the scoring himself late on. Dan Naidole broke the deadlock just before half-time with a power-packed effort from the edge of the box.

United currently sit second in the North West Counties Division One North table on 57 points after 25 fixtures. They are three points behind leaders Bury AFC who also won on Saturday beating third placed Holker Old Boys in a crunch game. 

After what joint boss Ash Connor described as a “lethargic” opening 40 minutes, the home side took the lead when Naidole fired home. 

Golcar went 2-0 up in the 53rd minute with a swift counter-attack. A Steeton attack broke down and Naidole set Cox away down the right. Cox delivered a low cross and found the unmarked Flynn who slotted home from close range for his 28th goal of the season.

Steeton pulled a goal back in the 67th minute when Alistair Morgan headed down from a corner for Kayle Price to steer the ball past Harry Stead to make it 2-1.

Cox sealed the points in the 78th minute when Steeton skipper Jerry White failed to clear a Joe Skarz cross and Cox stole in to stab home.

Next Saturday Golcar play Daisy Hill at home with a 3pm kick off.