Match Report: Lincoln United 0-0 Redcar Athletic

A solid point away from home, and with ten men we were able to keep a 10th consecutive away clean sheet

Well, we are back at the Hollou for our next match against Blyth Spartans, but it was a 6th away trip in 8 matches as we headed down to Lincoln first

It was end-to-end action from the beginning, with both sides testing their opposing keepers

Oscar Fletcher and John Howard had early strikes, though Oscar’s went over and John’s rebounded off a defender

Dane Burlace was ever-present down the right wing, sending a pass to Oscar, who had an attempt that went wide

We received a flurry of corners throughout the half too, though none could be put on target to give us an opening goal

The half ticked on, but we were struggling to truly make anything, with Lincoln defending deep, and their keeper was adding to the furstrations with some stunning stops

There was nearly a howler conceded by Lincoln in the 24th minute, with a Lincoln defender going to head the ball back to his keeper, who had just so happened to have ran out to claim said ball, causing it to trickle towards goal

Luckily for the Whites, that ball hit the side netting, resulting in a corner that was headed towards goal by Rio May, but was punched clear

Lincoln’s #9 received a booking, and their #10 took our Danni Lay moments after, in a fairly aggressive few moments from the hosts

Lincoln came close in the 41st minute, with a deep free kick played into the box, with the resulting shot skimmed across the face of the goal. In the process of that shot, though, Oscar Fletcher was barged over, which the referee gave as a free kick to us

The final act of the first half saw John Howard and Lincoln United’s #8 both enter the book following a scuffle near the halfway line, and with that, we entered the interval. 0-0 after 45 minutes

Due to the booking, John was brought off during the break, with Bryan Taylor brought on in his place.

A Steelman pass hit the ref, and the drop ball was given to Lincoln, which we pounced on when play resumed, with Louis Johnson trying to slip a pass through, though it was intercepted.

Curtis Round received a booking for delaying the restart, and Lincoln received a free kick in a decent spot following a counter from a Redcar corner that saw Danni Lay haul down an attacker.

Fewster came on for Round as we looked to bolster our attack

In the 62nd minute, Mark Anderson played a great pass to Louis, who worked the ball into the box, though Brad’s shot went wide

In the 65th minute, Lincoln’s keeper again produced a quality save as we had a range of shots on goal, with the final one coming from a scramble in the box that was pushed clear

Bosh had a near chance, though he slipped at the last second, allowing Lincoln’s keeper to grab the ball.

We had a free kick on the edge of the box that was hit off the wall, allowing Lincoln to counter, and in the 86th minute, the referee halted play as he had picked up a calf injury.

Kev Burgess came on for Oscar in the final few minutes, being played as an attacker too.

Entering additional minutes, Mark had a shot from the edge of the box that was dealt with by the goalkeeper, who made another fine save moments after

The lst bit of action of this match came at he other end though, as Danni Lay received a straight red for throwing an elbow, and the resulting free kick looked like it was going to sneak into the bottom corner, but Josh Mazfari, who until then had been somewhat bored with the lack of action, was called into it, and he made a great stop to push the attempt away.

The follow-up was blazed over, and that was that in what was, overall, an energetic 0-0 draw.

Up next are a pair of home matches: the first against Blyth Spartans on Wednesday and the second against Ossett on Saturday.

Hope to see you there. Take care, and up the Steelmen.