The boss offered his thoughts on a ten-man victory in difficult conditions.
A returning Carl Jarrett admitted he was thrilled by an excellent performance in difficult conditions at Birtley Town’s Arrowmark Home Improvements Stadium.
The ten-men of Redcar Athletic held out for an important three points on a heavy surface, Curtis Round on target at the death to stave off any attempt of late dramatics.
Carl Jarrett will have been thrilled with how matters began for his Steelmen, goals from Adam Boyes and Oscar Fletcher pointing to another thrashing come the half hour.
That momentum shifted when Mark Anderson was dismissed for violent conduct shortly before the break, Scott Heslop capitalising on the hour mark to bring the Hoops back within one.
Redcar fought valiantly – to Jarrett’s delight – and were rewarded with a much deserved insurance goal in the dying embers, courtesy of Curtis Round.
Pleased not only with the result, but the overall performance too, the boss said: “I thought our first half performance was excellent.”
“We created lots and lots of chances before the sending off. If we’d put a couple away, the game would have been dead and buried.
“I spoke to the lads at half time about rolling their sleeves up, and being solid in shape, and that’s exactly what they’ve done.
“The lads fought like hell for the club, and for the points that they needed.
“I thought the three points we’ve picked up here today were excellent.
“I spoke at the end there about these kind of games. You can have your 5-0s and your 8-0s, but these games when you go down to ten men are even more important.
“That performance today showed that we can do the ugly side as well.”P
Scott Heslop’s goal for Birtley in the 63rd minute was the first Redcar Athletic had conceded in over nine hours of Northern League football.
The Steelmen’s defence has been a hot-topic thanks to a spree of clean sheets, but even with such a record gone, Jarrett had high praise for their role in such a spirited victory.
“We have changed it around a bit.” He admitted. “Putting (Craig) Gott in there.”
“In the last eight games, Josh Mazfari and all of the lads at the back have been brilliant.
“Today, they defended really well. Winning all the headers, staying nice and tight. It was great to watch.
“But, it’s also a team game. It’s about defending from the front. We’ve got lads who work hard up top and in midfield.
“Deservedly so, the clean sheets have come. It’s about time that we hit our form, and I’m over the moon with it.”
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