Match Report: Redcar Athletic 4-2 Matlock Town

4 second half strikes from the Step's top scorer mean we are NPL East champions, and league champions for the 2nd season in a row

English weather is insanely odd, and there was a risk that our match against Matlock may have been called off, as a sudden burst of hail meant every inch of the Hollou was drenched.

With the pitch declared fit for play though, we could get underway, and it started brilliantly for us, with Bosh putting in an impressive tackle near the halfway line, allowing Curtis Round to break, though his shot went over.

A solid Bartliff challenge at the back nullified Matlock’s first chance, and Oscar Fletcher’s strike was just about gathered by Matlock’s goalkeeper.

Dane whipped in a deep cross that curled out of play, and things began to quieten down, with Matlock starting to sort themselves out as the game progressed.

Curtis Round was tracking back too, managing to win us a throw-in by sliding in and halting a Matlock break down the wing.

Another Burlace cross found birthday boy Owen Burns, though his attempt was put wide.

Down at our end, Josh Mazfari and JJ Bartliff pulled off a brilliant set of stops, with our keeper sticking a foot out to keep a shot from going in, and on the rebound, Bartliff pelted the ball off the line.

Things seemed to head towards a worrying direction as in the 38th minute, Matlock won a penalty, as Mazfari hesitated to grab the ball, causing Dane to slide in, and the referee did not hesitate.

But Josh atoned for that error as he got low to his right to smother both the penalty attempt and the rebound (Even if the actual penalty attempt from Matlock’s striker was borderline abysmal).

A few more decent Mazfari stops saw the half eventually come to an end, and it was level at the Hollou, though both sides could have scored.

Now, I have no clue what Carl Jarrett said to the lads in the dressing room during the interval, but whatever he said worked, as we played arguably the greatest second half the Steelmen have produced all season!

Our second corner of the match came within the first five minutes of the 2nd half, and it nearly found its way in as the ball was whipped to the far post and Nathan Guru headed it towards the net, though his attempt hit the crossbar twice and ultimately went out of play.

We kept pushing, though, and we finally got the breakthrough in the 54th minute. Curtis Round pulled off a spin to get into the box.

He played a ball across to Bosh, who saw his attempt parried away. Owen Burns reached that parry, saw his attempt spin away from goal, but it could only reach Adam Boyes again, and our leading goalscorer was not messing up again as he struck his attempt into the net, sending the fans into raptures.

That goal seemed to awaken us even more, as on and off the ball, we started to look even more threatening, with Dan Rowe putting in a solid last-ditch challenge to keep Matlock at bay.

Matlock made a few changes to try to sway the game, but unfortunately for them (and fortunately for us), that sway was only for the Steelmen, as within a matter of seconds of those changes being made, Bosh had his second goal of the game.

Curtis Round was again heavily involved, as he received a pass from Boyes, made his way down the left and swept a ball into the box that Adam was able to meet and turn in, doubling our advantage.

As I posted about the 2nd goal, I looked up and saw us get our 3rd. Nathan Guru played a long ball over the top, Matlock’s goalkeeper ventured far out of his box to challenge for it, lost said challenge to Bosh, who prodded the ball past him and then rolled it into an empty net.

Matlock got one goal back after this, and in some style too, as one of their substitutes got the ball outside of the box, took a couple of touches, and hammered a strike into the top right corner.

But we responded next.

Matlock’s defender went for a simple pass back to his keeper. Unfortunately for him, the only player who seemed to still be truly awake under a coastal moon was Bosh. He pounced, nabbed the ball, poked it past the keeper and put the ball into the net, giving himself and the Steelmen a 4-goal stamp on the game.

A packed crowd of 704 got to witness a great game, though the goals weren’t done yet, as Matlock would receive a penalty in the final moments, as Rio May would slide in, bringing a tricky Matlock player to the floor.

Sadly, Josh Mazfari couldn’t make two penalty stops in one game, though he did get really close as he dived the right way, but was unable to keep a powerful effort out of the net.

But that was the last thing that happened. And if you’re any good at counting, you will realise what that means. We had won 4-2, and a win means we officially became league champions!

Fans flooded the field (much to the dismay of the higher-ups), the players began to celebrate, and by the time the Hollou Sports Stadium was finally empty, it was well after midnight!

Now, up next, we have another set of league matches, and there is still something to play for in each of them. The first of these matches sees us stay at the Hollou as we host Bishop Auckland.

Will we be looking for revenge after what happened at their place? Maybe. Will the party pause? Maybe not.

Only one way to find out, though, and that is by waiting for Saturday and then making your way down to the Hollou once more.

See you there, and as always, up the title-winning Steelmen!

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