Match Report: Redcar Athletic 2-2 Guiseley AFC

We were so close to ending our month on a high, but a frustrating afternoon at Green Lane saw the Steelmen concede twice in the final five minutes to end the day with a draw.

In contrast to last week’s cup defeat to Ashton United, today’s game saw complete opposites.

To start with, the weather was much better, though still chilly, and on the pitch we would field a changed but solid team, with JJ Bartliff and Danni Lay both absent due to suspensions.

It would be the visitors who would start stronger, with a blip at the back allowing them to get a chance, though the first attempt was saved by Josh Mazfari, and the follow-up was blazed over the bar.

Mazfari would again be called into action soon after, as he would be forced into another stop following a weaving run from a Guiseley attacker.

There would be chances for us, though, with a pass from Brad Fewster finding Luke Spalding, who would sneak into the box and then have his heels clipped, though despite going down he would then have the penalty shout waved away by the referee.

We would then see the visitors’ goalkeeper make a near-calamitous error as he would rush out of his box but only give the ball to a halfway-line positioned Adam Boyes, who would pass the ball forwards to Fewster, who would see his attempt tipped behind.

Luke Spalding would again be involved in an attack, as he would get down the right wing with the ball, cut back and play a solid cross into the box that would just miss our men at the far post.

More solid Steelmen play would follow, though we would be unable to get a shot away as we passed the 40th minute mark.

However, we would end the half on a huge high, with a corner being floated into the box but headed away, though only to Brad Fewster who, on the edge of the box, would produce a volley that floated into the side netting to put us ahead.

One goal wasn’t enough for us either, as moments later we would see Luke Spalding get his first competitive goal for the Steelmen, as an attacking move would see Fewster lay the ball off to Spalding, and he would slip a clean shot into the far corner to double our lead, with the half-time whistle coming very soon after