Match Report: North Ferriby 1-2 Redcar Athletic

Who would have guessed that we would end the season with the stats we now have...

Two packed coaches headed to Humberside as we prepared for our final match of the season, which saw us take on North Ferriby.

A stunning day that marked the end of this title-winning Steelmen campaign, and a squad packed with talent, we were looking to go out with what was pretty much a trademark victory.

The opening ten minutes saw little happen in terms of action, with our first chance appearing in the 17th minute as a Curtis Round attempt went over the crossbar.

We would keep creating chances as the half progressed, with oscar Fletcher having a hand in a large number of our opportunities, though none would result in a goal.

North Ferriby’s keeper would hold a strike from Louis Johnson, and a corner for the Steelmen soon after would result in North Ferriby countering before being halted by a solid Dane Burlace challenge.

Past the half-hour mark, Oscar and Louis would combine on the right wing, a move that had been happening throughout the match, with the latter of the two playing a ball into the box that was turned just wide by a defender.

The resulting corner would be floated in over the top of the keeper, but Danni Lay’s header would ultimately miss the net.

We had another chance too, with another cross this time headed narrowly wide by Bosh, and then a short corner routine would stop before it really began, as a bemused Louis Johnson would slip as he received the ball.

That would be the last action as well, with the end of the half following soon after, seeing both sides level, and no goals having been scored

Our final 45 minutes of league football this season began with us winning a free kick due to a North Ferriby handball, though it was dealt with somewhat comfortably.

Bosh looked to be one-on-one in the 57th minute as he was fed a pass through, though the chance was stopped by the linesman’s flag going up.

Oscar would then create a solid chance as he pushed further forward, got into the box and swept a pass across the 6-yard box that Bosh was unable to turn in, in part due to the speed and suddenness of the pass.

We would make a triple sub in what had been a relatively quiet half, with Kev Burgess, Owen Burns, and Bryan Taylor coming on for Mitch Parkinson, Nathan Guru, and Danni Lay.

As we entered the final 25 minutes, the score remained the same, with Oscar again getting into the box, but he was unable to see his pass put into the net.

A couple of chances for North Ferriby would be dealt with, with the highlight of those seeing Josh Mazfari smother a near-post shot from a North Ferriby winger.

However, we would get the breakthrough in the end, as Louis Johnson would work his way down the right wing, producing some skills to evade the defenders before dinking an effort towards the goal. That effort sailed over the keeper, and then a mangle of bodies at the far post accompanied the ball into the net.

Questions were asked about whose goal it was, with Carl Jarrett certain it should be put down as an own goal. I will leave that decision to you.

What was a fact, though, is that we were winning, and no sooner had we scored one than we scored another.

Some solid work from Curtis Round saw him push inside before squaring a pass to Oscar, who slammed a strike into the bottom corner to surely seal the three points.

However, those three points suddenly came into question in the dying minutes, as North Ferriby won a penalty as Kev Burgess fouled an attacker, with the spot kick being slammed into the top corner.

The hosts would then look to score an equaliser in the final seconds, though we were saved by the linesman’s flag being raised due to an offside player.

That would be the final thing to happen too, and the match would end with another Redcar Athletic win.

What a season it has been. So many highlights to look back on and reminisce about, but now our focus is set on Step 3 football. Some intriguing matchups ahead, with the highlights arguably being against Whitby, Stockton (unless they win the playoffs), Bury, and Alfreton Town (unless they’re sent to another league)

I probably won’t see you anytime soon, and so I will leave you alone for the summer. enjoy it, make the most of it, and see you next season

Up the Steelmen!