Ashton Dick stars as Under23s strike EIGHT against Southbank

Match Report: Redcar Athletic Under23s 8-2 Southbank Albion

Redcar Athletic Under23s moved back into the promotion places, but did it the hard way, coming from 2-0 down to beat South Bank Albion at The B&D Interiors Stadium.

The away side got off to the perfect start with Athletic looking very rusty in the early stages, scoring twice in the opening seven minutes thanks to a superb curling effort from 20 yards and a deflected free kick.

Written By:

Mark Hathaway

Redcar Athletic Under-23s coach

It took the Under23s the opening 20 minutes before they started to find their stride but when they did, they scored three times in 10 minutes to take the lead.

On 23 minutes, David Bradley and Ashton Dick combined to set up Adil Hanif, who finished neatly at the near post.

It was 2-2 on the half hour mark when David Bradley turned superbly, taking three Albion players out of the game, and passed to Adil Hanif, who rounded the keeper and slotted the ball into an empty net.

It was 3-2 just three minutes later with another assist from David Bradley, this time setting up Ashton Dick who finished well.

It was nearly four on 40 minutes when a great run forward from Matty Green saw the midfielder try his luck with his unfavoured left foot, but the Albion ‘keeper was equal to it and tipped the ball around the post.

The second half started with Athletic on the front foot. First Adil Hanif turned well but his goalbound effort was well saved. Minutes later, Ashton Dick tried his luck, but the ‘keeper made another good save.

However, the home side weren’t to be denied and made it 4-2 on 50 minutes when Ashton Dick showed excellent pace to race away from his marker and curled a low shot into the bottom corner.

It was 5-2 on 59 minutes when Matty Rutland and Luke Finegan combined to play the ball to David Bradley, who grabbed yet another assist, setting up Sam Robinson, who finished well from 12 yards.

Within a minute, it was six when a lovely ball out of defence from Jack Marshall found Ashton Dick, who got there before the ‘keeper and slotted into an empty net for his hat trick.

Athletic made it 7-2 on 65 minutes, with a goal from an unusual source. The goal came from an excellent free kick routine, created by Adil Hanif, who combined with Ashton Dick to cross the ball to the back post, where centre back Matty Rutland hooked a shot over the keeper and into the net.

The last 25 minutes of the game petered out, though Athletic had the last say when, from a Jamie Skelton thrown in, Ashton Dick turned his man superbly, raced into the box and finished well for his fourth of the game.