Bullock blasts ‘sloppy’ play despite commanding Celtic victory

The First Team coach criticised a poor start against West Allotment Celtic.

Redcar Athletic coach Lee Bullock offered a fair assessment of play at East Palmersville, highlighting both a ‘sloppy’ start, and a resounding turnaround.

The Steelmen trailed by two goals after a poor opening quarter of an hour, the dismissal of West Allotment’s Ben Gaffney the trigger for an emphatic response.

Slow to click into gear at a sunny East Palmersville, Redcar Athletic succumbed to a pair of early goals from Damen Mullen and Alfie Livermore, Lee Bullock blaming ‘slow, poor decision making.’

An exquisite dead ball from Mark Anderson finally kicked the Steelmen into gear, Adam Boyes and Curtis Round each netting two apiece, as Oscar Fletcher added to his tally in spectacular fashion.

West Allotment Celtic 2-6 Redcar Athletic

Read our report as Redcar Athletic come from behind to beat West Allotment Celtic.

More than pleased with the result, Bullock couldn’t help but be concerned over Redcar’s ‘sloppy’ start.

“Obviously, it was a really good result.” He said. “It’s a good three points on the road.”

“But the first ten minutes was just so sloppy. We could’ve been 1-0 up after 25 seconds, didn’t hit the target, and before you knew it we were 2-0 down.

“Credit to them (West Allotment Celtic) though, they kept their heads, they started doing the right things.

“In the end, the quality took over. We know there’s goals in the team. We just can’t afford to give other teams a two-goal start.”

‘BY THE SCRUFF OF THE NECK’

The First Team coach had high praise for Mark Anderson.

One player Lee Bullock was particularly impressed with was Mark Anderson, the midfielder reaping the plaudits for changing the tempo of game whilst trailing.

The midfielder opened Redcar’s account for the evening with a stunning free kick, pulling the strings from the centre of the park throughout the first half comeback.

“Once they settled it down, it was a great free kick by ‘Sparky’ (Mark Anderson).” Bullock said. “He really took the game by the scruff of the neck, and started getting us doing the right things.”

“Unfortunately we lost (Bradley) Fewster, Blackford came on and gave us a little bit of extra quality on the right.

“All of sudden we took control of the game, and with two quick good goals, and the sending off, it changed the game.”