Recap

Our Boxing Day special played out to a rather uninspiring end as Redcar Athletic were held to a draw by first time rivals Marske United.

The first goalless encounter of the season for Redcar, the contest was far from without chances, as both Adam Boyes and Bradley Fewster missed in crucial moments.

Marske had few opportunities of their own, and come the final whistle, offered very little threat towards a well organised backline.

In somewhat of a precarious spell of form, Carl Jarrett opted for a novel formation, utilising Craig Gott in the centre of defence, with Olly Cann and Curtis Round out wide.

Oscar Fletcher operated in an attacking midfield role, twice testing stand-in shot-stopper Robert Bennett in the opening quarter of an hour.

Josh Mazfari found some trouble with the low winter sun, twice caught out at the back with James Sayer lurking, but never punished.

The first real chance of the ninety fell to Danni Lay, who towered above hordes of yellow shirts to nod Curtis Round’s delivery wide of the mark.

Robert Bennett had his first real action not a minute later, Adam Boyes slipped through with not a defender in sight, but denied by an outstretched leg.

Oscar Fletcher beckoned in the restart with another run through the heart of midfield, lashing his effort into the advertising hoardings behind Bennett’s goal.

A similar effort from Bradley Fewster had the stand-in shot stopper scrambling, as his intervention was soon needed to divert Priestley Griffiths’ volley behind for a corner.

A gilt-edged chance was passed up by Bradley Fewster shortly after the hour mark. Curtis Round again delivered deep to the back post where the forward sat unmarked, his effort dragged across the face of goal.

As Marske United began to seek a foothold in the contest, Redcar were perhaps lucky to keep eleven players on the field.

Nathan Guru clipped Josh Duffield to see his name taken into the book, soon arriving late into a challenge with Charlie Graham, but relieved to receive just a quick word from the match official.

The last opportunity to snatch anything more than a point fell to Adam Boyes in the dying embers.

Headlines were there to be made, but as the former Seasiders’ forward rolled his effort wide, any chance at a Boxing Day victory quickly disappeared.

Steelmen: Mazfari, Cann (Anderson 85’), Round, Griffiths, Guru, Lay, Liddle, Gott, Boyes, Fewster, Fletcher (Blackford 83’)

Next Match: Newcastle Benfield (a) | Saturday 28 December 2024