Recap

Oscar Fletcher fired Redcar Athletic to victory against a spirited Northallerton Town, increasing the gap at the top of the table to an appealing five points.

The midfielder turned home the lone goal of the game on the half hour, Redcar’s efforts to add to the tally ultimately fruitless.

Northallerton huffed in search of an equaliser, Josh Mazfari steadfast between the sticks to claim his TENTH clean sheet in Steelmen colours.

Without Mark Anderson due to work commitments, Chay Liddle made a welcome return to the eleven, Carl Jarrett otherwise opting for consistency after Tuesday night’s victory in Carlisle.

Not quite the same blistering start, Adam Boyes offered the first glimpse at Redcar’s offensive prowess, his pullback into the box untouched, as Bradley Fewster turned Chay Liddle’s through ball behind.

The two forward’s linked up to first challenge Callum Dobson in between the sticks, Fewster slipping the play through towards Adam Boyes, who couldn’t beat the young-stopper at close-range.

Callum Guy fell short of a third goal in as many games, his headed effort denied on the goalline by a desperate clearance, Boyes again frustrated by Dobson as he rose to meet Joe Taylor’s delivery.

The decisive moment eventually came through a recycled set play, Danni Lay rising to knock the ball down for Oscar Fletcher, whose first time effort on the volley found the bottom left corner.

James O’Brien was the first to make something of Northallerton’s play, set free by Nathan Stephenson, but far from equipped to beat Josh Mazfari in the Redcar goal.

A brace alluded Oscar Fletcher when he unleashed an effort from deep in the midfield, his dinked pass towards Callum Guy intercepted by Callum Dobson.

Nathan Guru was the first to threaten the Northallerton shot-stopper when play resumed, nodding inches wide of the far stanchion from Curtis Round’s back post delivery.

Chay Liddle again split the defence, this time to find Callum Guy, his attempt to continue his goalscoring form high and wide of the mark.

A set play at the other end forced Josh Mazfari to again work for his clean sheet, James Coatsworth’s deceptive, low free-kick far from troubling for the Hartlepool United loanee.

Curtis Round picked out Adam Boyes in space, only to again see his effort again strike the advertising hoardings, Fewster’s run to the byline well fended behind.

Under pressure from Northallerton as the clock ticked down, Redcar opted instead to see the game out in the attacking third, one last chance to seal the deal squandered by Bradley Fewster.

Steelmen: Mazfari, J.Taylor, Round, Fletcher, Lay, Guru, Guy, Liddle, Boyes, Fewster, Blackford (Bennett 63’)

Goal Scorer: Oscar Fletcher (35’)

Next Match: Whickham (h) | Saturday 12th October 2024