Steelers reel but late rally saves record
In one of only two matches to beat the weather, Steelers were three down before three goals in the final 10 minutes earned them a share of the spoils at Cheapside, Waltham.
Steelers were protecting an unbeaten league run stretching back to the opening day of the season. Harvest, meanwhile, have had a mixed season and are in the lower half of the table.
This did not seem the case in the early stages of the game, though, as they started brightly.
They took the lead soon after, however, with a fine goal when, after a mix-up in the Steelers defence, a Harvest player expertly lobbed the ball over the advancing Chapman in goal.
The goal jolted Steelers into life and their first chance came when the Harvest defence allowed Josh Braid to advance before striking from 25 yards which brought the first of a number of good saves from the keeper.
Steelers should have equalised soon after when Rick Gaunt went on a powerful run before laying the ball on a plate for Scott Sadler but he could only scoop the ball over.
Steelers were starting to dominate the play and Braid delivered an inch-perfect free kick which saw Gaz Deakins head just wide.
Despite all the Steelers pressure, though, it was Harvest who increased their lead. Hesitation in the Steelers defence saw a Harvest player round Chapman and fire home to double their advantage.
Soon after, Gaunt was again the provider for Steelers, this time supplying Nick Rook, but another smart save denied him.
The Harvest stopper then made probably the best save of the game when he managed to adjust his body to turn a deflected shot around the post for a corner.
As always with a 2-0 scoreline the third goal was going to be important and Harvest almost grabbed it in the opening seconds of the second half but Chapman made a great save by tipping a goal-bound shot onto the post.
Steelers then began to throw everything at Harvest.
Firstly Deakins skewed his shot horribly wide when in on goal, then Sadler saw his shot strike the bar.
Second-half substitute Paul Smith then played in Gaunt but he fired wide again and then, from another chance, he hit the outside of the post.
With 15 minutes remaining Harvest scored what should have been the killer goal when their player struck a superb dipping volley from fully 30 yards which flew over Chapman.
It looked like Steelers' long unbeaten run in the league would come to an end but the late rally began.
It was going to take something special to beat the Harvest keeper and so it proved when Deakins picked up the ball in midfield, advanced a few yards and struck a fantastic shot from 30 yards which flew into the top corner with only 10 minutes left.
It seemed this would be just a consolation but five minutes later Steelers grabbed a second.
A Nathan Thompson corner from the left caused confusion in the Harvest area and Rook managed to get the final touch.
Just two minutes later, Steelers were level when Gaunt put in a great cross to the far post where Rook scored with a firm header.
Steelers sensed an unlikely victory and almost had it when Gaunt went clear, but he fluffed his lines and shot wide.
Referee Critten then blew the whistle and Steelers' unbeaten league run stayed intact. Having drawn too many of these, however, the title now looks beyond them.
In the only other match to go ahead, Holton le Clay drew 2-2 with Gunners Watch (Daniel Carter, Stuart Inch) in Division Two at Holton-le-Clay Community Centre.
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