Recap

Redcar Athletic held down top spot in the Northern League with a spirited 2-1 win over Crook Town, the fifth in as many games at the dawn of a new season.

Quick out of the traps, Adam Boyes rose to turn home a ninth minute lead for the Steelmen, play soon devolving into a number of sloppy mistakes.

Jack Blackford found the net on the hour in what proved a decisive intervention, Charlie Burton’s late punisher paled into a mere consolation come the final whistle.

On a weekend marked by Carl Jarrett’s return, Bradley Fewster headlined a number of key absentees from the side: Craig Gott, Mark Anderson and James Risborough in good company on the sidelines.

The losses proved no handicap, Oscar Fletcher on hand to beat Alex Curran inside five minutes, the linesman’s flag striping away his third goal of the season for an alleged offside.

Layton Watts had eyes for the spectacular – Curran lucky to see his effort from deep caught in a strong gust of wind – as another two digs from Oscar Fletcher fell to the wayside.

A good stop from the Crook number one soon became an opportunity for Redcar Athletic, Kevin Burgess’s header tipped onto the frame of goal and ricocheted into the path of Adam Boyes for a simple finish.

Corey Nicholson enjoyed the first chance of the afternoon for the visitors, his vicious drive no match for Josh Mazfari in the Redcar goal.

Chances few and far between, Adam Boyes enjoyed a ‘nearly moment’ with a deflected volley – Curran on his toes to tip it behind – Layton Watts attempting to put some flair on his finish from Jack Blackford’s reverse pass, but to no avail.

Play back underway after the interval, Watts tempted a few more gasps with a pile-driver from deep, his effort too high to trouble the gloves of Alex Curran.

A starring performance from the Black and Ambers’ shot-stopper, the one blot on his record came to the benefit of Jack Blackford.

The forward’s near-post curler snuck beyond the sprawling number one, Redcar given license to breathe with a half hour to go.

Crook proved fortunate not to be on the end of a Layton Watts treble in the second period, the forward setting his sights on the far stanchion with an effort curled just wide, his snap-shot from close range blocked by an outstretched leg.

Tidy when called upon across the afternoon, it was Josh Mazfari’s turn to come up with a mistake as the clock ticked down, his long clearance straight to the feet of a blue shirt finished neatly by Charlie Bunton.

Absorbing a barrage of late pressure, Redcar enjoyed many a quick break, soon turning to control of the tie as Oscar Fletcher forced another dive towards the stanchion for Curran.

Cam Thomson came off the bench to cause some late trouble for the Black and Ambers’, his late rocket the last action in store for the afternoon, and placed just wide.

Steelmen: Mazfari, Cann, Round, Guru, Burgess, Lay, Blackford (Thomson 82’), Liddle, Boyes, Fletcher, Watts

Goal Scorers: Adam Boyes (9’), Jack Blackford (61’)

Next Match: Whitley Bay (h) | Tuesday 13th August 2024