Match Report: Redcar Athletic 1-0 Blyth Spartans

Three more points as we get even closer to the title, but it was a tough three points to earn as we had to best a very strong Blyth Spartans side

Under the floodlights at the Hollou, and against an impressive Blyth Spartans side, we managed to get those all-important three points thanks to Owen Burns’ second-half strike.

We started the match as the better of the two sides, but it wasn’t the greatest of openings as we seemed to struggle to have any shots on goal.

A few early corners produced nothing; a Louis Johnson cross was caught by Blyth’s keeper, and another corner in the 14th minute was cleared out by the visitors.

In the 17th minute, Blyth got a gilded chance, as they countered from a midfield deflection, and they proceeded to sweep a ball across the box into an open spot.

What should have been a simple goal, though, was prodded wide, much to the away team’s agony.

Blyth did begin to push more for something, but we weren’t completely out of it, as Fewster received a great pass out wide by John Howard, and he made his way down the left before putting a ball in that slipped past the Redcar players in the 6-yard box.

We had another chance soon after, with Bosh pinging a ball out wide to Louis Johnson, who worked his way into the box before playing a pass that was flicked into the keeper’s hands.

At the back, Bryan Taylor put in some great tackles to stop Blyth’s attacks, as in a matter of minutes, he twice got in the way of an onrushing winger, winning the ball back for the Steelmen.

We had more chances as we approached the interval, but the last real one for us saw a distant free kick struck towards goal by John, but it was ultimately smothered.

That, however, was not the last chance of the half. On the left wing, Blyth Spartans saw one of their players slip past half our squad as he entered the box, and he slipped a pass across the face of the goal that their #11 stuck a foot out to hit

Somehow, though, that hit took the ball wide as it rolled past our post, much to the relief of our squad, but also to the frustrations of Blyth’s support, players and staff.

With that, we entered the break level, with neither side able to open the scoring

The restart saw an early change, as Rio May came off for the soon-to-be suspended Danni Lay.

We had some great chances too, with Louis Johnson and Oscar Fletcher both having some opportunities to put us ahead, though neither could score.

Mazfari was solid at the back as he made some decent saves to keep the score level, with a pair of stops occurring in the 56th and 66th minutes.

We did get the lead eventually, though, as Oscar whipped a brilliant pass out wide to Louis, who worked down the right before sweeping a ball across the box that Owen got a flick to, sending it past Blyth’s keeper.

That goal seemed to awaken the squad, too, as we began pushing for another, with Bosh tracking back heavily, putting in some great tackles and passes from midfield.

However, that really was the last real bit of action, as a distant strike from Sparky was held by the keeper, and the only thing to follow that was the full-time whistle.

The important part, though, was that we had gotten another three points, with the bonus of a clean sheet!

Up next is another home match as we host Ossett on Saturday, before the long-awaited cup match vs Grangetown, which will also be at the Hollou on Wednesday night.

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