Match Report: Redcar Athletic 0-0 Emley AFC

Life in Step 3 has been rather successful so far, and a draw against Emley, whilst not the best result, means we are still unbeaten.

Roughly this time last year, we welcomed the Pewits to Green Lane after having a promising debut in Step 4, and they then proceeded to beat us 2-0, inflicting our only home defeat of the season.

They then held us to a 0-0 draw at their place soon after we had clinched the title, meaning they were the only league side that we failed to score against across the 2025/2026 campaign.

We did start fairly well, with an early chance seeing Emley’s defence clear away a ball into the middle.

The first real opportunity came for the visitors though, as a counter saw a lone attacker go one-on-one with Josh Mazfari.

Our keeper was able to get low and force the attacker wide, and a sliding challenge from Danni Lay saw him divert an attempt off the player and out for a goal kick.

We did push for an opener after that early scare, as we built an attack that resulted in several rebounded shots, with the move ending as a Lewis Hawkins strike deflected behind for a corner.

Moments later, Lewis Hawkins was again involved in a chance, as he played a brilliant ball that found the head of Andrei Ardelean, but his header towards goal was held by Emley’s keeper.

Outside of those chances, there wasn’t much that occurred, with possession rarely staying with either team.

We did start to form better chances after the half-hour mark, as Andrei pounced on a loose ball but saw his shot blocked out of play, before another chance for our striker five minutes later saw him attempt a narrow shot on goal that the Emley keeper pushed away

The final act of the half saw JJ be fouled right on the halfway line, to the frustration of the Emley bench, and the half-time whistle was sounded soon after, with no added time to be played

The second half, similar to the first, started with an Emley chance, though this one was dealt with a lot quicker than the earlier one, and we proceeded to have several chances at the other end.

We had two great opportunities on the hour mark, as a ball was played into the box, though Fewster’s strike went over the crossbar, before moments later we formed another chance. Still, this strike went narrowly wide.

We brought on Owen Burns for Andrei Ardelean as we looked to change our style, and a combination of Ciaran Banks and Brad Fewster attempted a free kick routine in the 70th minute that saw Banks lay the ball off to Fewster, who took a touch and tried to curl a strike towards goal that was cleared away.

Moments later, Fewster again was involved in an attack as he lofted a ball towards goal that just evaded the head of Adam Boyes, with the ball being gathered by the goalkeeper.

Luke Spalding was then brought on for Fewster, and his pace almost immediately was proving to be a benefit as he formed many chances down the right that saw him get the ball, and himself, into some promising areas.

We did have a great chance in the 73rd minute, as an overhead kick didn’t pay off, with the ball trickling through the box, where it came to Banks who whipped a ball in that was turned wide by Burns.

A solid stop from Mazfari just before the 80th minute saw him get his fingertips to a drilled effort, preventing it from getting closer to goal, and the final ten minutes really saw little in terms of action, as Emley seemed to have their sights set on a draw.

The final act saw a last-minute corner played to the far post, headed out of the box, and it ended with the eventual shot going over.

Another point to add to our tally, and as things stand, we are the highest-placed newly-promoted side (unless Avro draw or win tonight)

We host FC United of Manchester next, with that game taking place on Saturday. See you there!

Lineups:

Redcar Athletic: Mazfari, Guru, Banks, Bartliff, Rowe, Lay (C), Smith, Hawkins, Boyes, Fewster [Spalding, 71′], Ardelean [Burns, 63′]

Unused subs: Burgess, Jefferson, Bailey

Emley AFC: Bottomley, Sheppeard, Farrar, Lindley, Cowgill (C), Barks, Kiwomya [Ejupi, 60′], Haswell, De Girolamo [Thompson, 74′], Johnson, Stacey [Hanson, 85′]

Unused subs: Sorhaindo, Murray