Match Report: Redcar Athletic 3-1 Alfreton Town

If you had said to us a year ago today that we would be putting three past Alfreton Town, then I think you would've received some baffled looks...but here we are

There are just 3 home matches this month, and so far we have a 100% record in them, as three separate goalscorers allowed us to head to the top of the league.

The start of the match saw several fouls and early bookings, as an Alfreton defender and Danny Rowe both got yellows in the first 10 minutes.

Our first solid chance came in the 11th minute, as Owen found himself in a spot to score his third in as many games, but his attempt was put over the bar.

It continued to be our ball as Danni Lay retrieved it on the halfway line, pushed forward past an attacker, and played a pass wide that Alfreton did eventually deal with

They would then get their own chance moments later as a mistake at the back was nearly pounced on, but their eventual strike went wide of the post.

Ciaran Banks would be involved in a great chance for us, as he would get the ball and go on a meandering run before a quick one-two with Bosh would see our summer signing then be clipped in the box.

No penalty was given, amidst yells, and Banks would remain down for a short while after

The half would continue goalless, with bits happening throughout, with the last few minutes bringing the biggest moments of the game.

In the 44th, we got a chance that ended with Alfreton possession. The Reds then countered, but a great tackle from Nathan Guru was matched by a great save from Josh Mazfari as we held off the visitors.

The cherry on top would be that we would take the lead just before the interval, as a deep free kick from Banks was played across the pitch to Dan Rowe, who would head it into the box, where Bosh would sweep it across to Louis Johnson, and he would glide the ball into the net.

A late lead in the first half, and the whistle would follow soon after

A dramatic end to the half would be continued nearly instantly in the next, as after an interesting start we would get a second goal as Oscar would take a strike from the edge of the box that would be flicked into the net by Adam Boyes.

Then, within a minute of that goal being scored, we would have another, as Oscar would head the ball in midfield, and then go on a run forwards before lashing a strike into the far corner to put us 3-0 up.

We would begin to make changes after that, with Lewis Hawkins, Connor Smith,m Brad Fewster, Curtis Round, and Andrei Ardelean all brought on throughout the remaining minutes.

Amidst those changes were a few brief opportunities, but nothing would materialise for the Steelmen, and we would enter the final few minutes with a solid lead and a clean sheet.

Frustratingly, that clean sheet wouldn’t remain, as an own goal would give Alfreton a goal back, even if it was nothing more than a consolation, with the full-time whistle coming soon after

A draw for Cleethorpes, alongside Avro not playing, meant we had gone top of the league, even if it is a brief accolade, with Avro having two games in hand.

But as long as we keep winning, then there isn’t much more to do

Curzon Ashton up next on Tuesday night, see you there!

Line-ups:

Redcar Athletic: Mazfari, Guru, Banks, Bartliff, Rowe [Smith, 65′], Lay (C), Johnson [Round, 68′], Burns [Hawkins, 56′], Boyes, Fletcher [Fewster, 68′], Spalding [Ardelan, 74′]

Alfreton Town: Roberts, Grumley, Parker (C) [Nadin, 27′], Williams, Robson, Dixon, Kruszynski [Abudu, 29′], Fyfe [Kozluk, 75′], Ligendza, Odunaiya, Salmon