Match Report: Hyde United 4-2 Redcar Athletic

For the third match in a row, your Steelmen failed to pick up a win

For the first time in over a year, we conceded four goals in a single league fixture, as Hyde United quite frankly tore us apart from minute one.

A rotated side lacking Oscar Fletcher, Danni Lay, Lewis Hawkins, and Ciaran Banks had to deal with a rapid onslaught of chances from the hosts, with the first goal coming in the 6th minute as Hyde’s winger got down the left, cut in, and blasted a shot at goal that, despite looking to have been stopped by the hand of Josh Mazfari, would trickle over the line.

They would then nearly get an identical second just moments later, though this attempt would be blazed over the bar.

We would get a few chances of our own, though none would be successful, as last-stage passes would frequently be intercepted.

We would reach the half-hour mark with the score unchanged, though Hyde would get chances and then capitalise on one soon after, tucking away a ball played across the box at the back post to double their lead.

A Josh Mazfari save would spare us from an even worse scoreline, as Hyde would pinch the ball in midfield and push forward, but our shot-stopper would rush out to smother the chance.

The final act of the half would see a Curtis Round pass played through the box, though it would miss every Redcar player, and the hosts would clear, with the break coming soon after

A damaging first half, both to morale and to our spot at the top of the league

A booking for Connor Smith would start the second half, and a Hyde third would compound our misery, as Curtis Round would bundle the ball into our own net following a drilled pass into the box.

We were 3-0 down, and it was appearing that the whole Manchester region was a bogey spot for the Steelmen, with Curzon Ashton, Ashton United, and now Hyde all handing us defeats in a matter of weeks.

We would bring on Mitch Parkinson, in place of Connor Smith, and on the hour mark there would be another great stop from Josh Mazfari as he gathered a low shot from the hosts.

We would then get on the scoresheet soon after that save, as a lifted ball into the box would be volleyed into the net by Owen Burns, and three minutes later we would get a second goal as a whipped-in corner would be headed into the net by Mitch Parkinson.

Andrei would come on for Brad Fewster, and a Hyde red card would add a bit more drama to the day, even if that sending-off was just for one of their coaches.

We entered the final ten minutes a goal down, and there was hope that we could get an equaliser. Unfortunately for us, though, it would be Hyde to get the final goal of the game, as a counter-attack from a corner would go out for a throw-in, and they would get the ball from that throw, enter our box, and put a shot into the net to make it 4-2

Jayden would come on for Luke in added time, but it would be too late for him and us, with the ref blowing for full time shortly after.

Defeat, and Cleethorpes win, means we are no longer first, but there is plenty of time for things to change in the league. We just have to hope and wait.

We host Bamber Bridge on Tuesday night, and after that we have another home match against Warrington Town.

Hope to see you at both

Line-ups:

Redcar Athletic: Mazfari, Smith [Parkinson, 55′], Round, Bartliff (C), Guru, Rowe, Johnson, Burns, Boyes, Fewster [Ardelean, 66′], Spalding [Jefferson, 90′]

Unused subs: Woodhouse, Burgess

Hyde United: Eastham, Bradbury-Allen, McMahon, Spooner, Roscoe (C), W. Hall, Gabidon [C. Hall, 82′], Gardner [Maieco, 68′], Hough, Martin, Makoli [Oshodi, 84′]

Unused subs: Stewart, Ashagre