Recap

Oscar Fletcher’s first senior hat-trick stole the headlines as Redcar Athletic dispelled recent woes against Penrith in an emphatic five-goal thrashing.

No hang-ups from defeat to North Shields on Wednesday evening, Fletcher opened the floodgates on the brink of the half, and in some style too.

His treble continued into the second period – albeit in a less spectacular fashion – sandwiched by goals from Bradley Fewster and Jack Blackford.

Days on from a first league defeat, Redcar Athletic were in desperate need of a response, a tough ask certainly made easier by the return of Adam Boyes and Danni Lay.

The defender missed out on the midweek trip to North Shields through injury, still quick into the action to see his thumping header cleared off the line.

Kevin Burgess went close with a somewhat skewed volley, Connor Hammell too frustrated to see his effort astray at the other end.

The dead ball delivery of Mark Anderson continued to cause problems, both Danni Lay and the skipper adept in the air, but wide with the finish.

Adam Boyes first prompted a stop from Aaron Taylor on the half hour, his low effort cast behind off an outstretched leg, the shot-stopper soon to breathe a sigh of relief as Bradley Fewster dragged wide.

Pressure mounting as the half loomed, a loose ball produced the opening from almost nothing, Oscar Fletcher meeting it with such finesse to pick out the far top corner.

His efforts were almost added to as play resumed, Curtis Round’s cross met by Adam Boyes, and clawed out of the net to some distain by Aaron Taylor.

Such appeals were soon forgotten, as the forward’s pullback was palmed into the path of Bradley Fewster, and neatly dispatched with minimal fuss.

A set piece from Mark Anderson fed Oscar Fletcher’s second, his corner delivery thumped home at the back post with a flying volley.

Quick feet from substitute Olly Cann worked the Steelmen into a convincing position, Taylor out to push the ball away from Adam Boyes, but only as far as Oscar Fletcher, who obliged with the finish.

Redcar’s clinical half hour came to an end with perhaps the greatest move of the match, seven players involved as Jack Bennett put the ball on a plate for Jack Blackford, arriving in the middle.

Steelmen: Mazfari, Guru, Round (Thomson 77’), Liddle, Burgess, Lay (Cann 64’), Blackford, Anderson (Bennett 73’), Fewster (J.Taylor 62’), Boyes, Fletcher

Goal Scorers: Oscar Fletcher (45+1’), (60’), (73’), Bradley Fewster (50’), Jack Blackford (83’)

Next Match: Newcastle Benfield (h) | Tuesday 10th September 2024