Recap

Redcar Athletic kicked off the new year at the B&D Interiors Stadium with a comfortable derby victory over the ten men of Guisborough Town.

A rash challenge on debutant Bryan Taylor saw Dylan McAvoy dismissed inside the half hour, his actions quickly punished by a tidy finish from Oscar Fletcher.

Mark Anderson doubled the tally on the stroke of halftime, a sweet strike from the edge of the area to send the Steelmen back to the top of the Northern League.

Carl Jarrett made four changes to the team which lost to Newcastle Benfield in December, headlined by the introduction of South Shields loanee Bryan Taylor.

The 20-year-old found himself in the thick of the action from start to finish, the victim of a late Dylan McAvoy challenge, which would be punished with a red card.

Even before the dismissal, Redcar enjoyed the better of play. Priestley Griffiths forced a strong stop from Robert Dean inside five minutes, whilst Oscar Fletcher drove an effort off the underside of the bar.

The opening goal came from a delightful piece of attacking play, laid off for Fletcher by Adam Boyes, and thumped into the back of the net off the far post.

Mark Anderson arrived on the scene to curl home a second moments before the break. His effort from outside the box nestled in the top left corner, leaving Robert Dean rooted to the spot.

Redcar should perhaps have added a third when play resumed. Bryan Taylor continued his sensational showing with a dangerous ball across the face of goal, which no red shirt could stretch to prod home.

Robert Dean remained busy deep into the half, beating away a pair of efforts from Priestley Griffiths, whilst tipping Chay Liddle’s drive onto the woodwork.

Guisborough’s lone chance to reduce the arrears came through substitute Mustapha Abdullahi. The forward’s half volley seemed destined for the far corner but for a fantastic diving stop from Josh Mazfari.

Regular changes to both teams seemed to break up momentum as play entered the final exchanges, Craig Gott’s thunderous effort stepping out from the backline failing to trouble Robert Dean.

Steelmen: Mazfari, Guru, Bryan Taylor, Liddle, Gott, Fletcher (Fewster 65’), Guy (Round 71’), Griffiths (Joe Taylor 79’), Lay (Cann 46’), Boyes, Anderson

Goal Scorers: Oscar Fletcher (36’), Mark Anderson (44’)

Next Match: Whitley Bay (a) | Tuesday 21 January 2025