Recap

Redcar Athletic win 4-1 on penalties.

The inaugural Steel and Iron Cup went the way of Redcar Athletic, the Steelmen taking the crown over Holker Old Boys in a flawless penalty shootout.

Ahead at the break thanks to goals from Adam Boyes and Nathan Guru, the North West Counties outfit roared back to see the tie level on the hour.

Adam Boyes nodded home from a trialist’s deep cross to complete his hat-trick, Holker leaving it late to again find a leveller, sending the bout to a penalty shootout.

The last game of pre-season preparations for Redcar Athletic, Carl Jarrett faced yet more injury frustrations, with Oscar Fletcher and Craig Gott but two of those unavailable.

Matters were made much worse for the boss just minutes into the tie, an ambitious effort from deep placed too perfectly for a flying Josh Mazfari.

The opener left Redcar undeterred, Adam Boyes close from Bradley Fewster’s pass, Jack Blackford but an inch too high with his venomous curler.

A mistake from Josh Mazfari left unpunished, Redcar finally made their mark in attack, Adam Boyes lurking in the area and on hand to turn home as Holker failed to deal with the shot-stopper’s seeking pass.

Level for a matter of minutes, Layton Watts’ in-swinging corner paved the way for a second, Nathan Guru ploughing through bodies in the centre to nod home his first for the club.

Redcar’s most prolific in pre-season, Fewster met personal frustration in front of goal, arrowing wide from Layton Watts’ through ball, his low effort later denied, but palmed into the path of Adam Boyes for a simple finish.

Three to the good as play resumed, the Steelmen descended into a mass of sloppy mistakes.

Josh Mazfari was first punished to half the deficit, a quick counter soon seeing the tie back to level pegging.

Quick to seek a response, Adam Boyes was denied at close range, a trialist’s cross finally teeing the forward up for a tidy hat-trick, nodded home at the far post.

With seconds to go on the clock, another sloppy defensive pass fed one last dramatic breakaway, Holker’s forwards linking up to perfection to send to tie to spot kicks.

A trophy on the line, Redcar Athletic’s efforts from twelve yards proved unwavering, Adam Boyes, Mark Anderson, Layton Watts and Danni Lay all on target, as Josh Mazfari clawed out a decisive save.

Steelmen: Mazfari, Cann, Trialist, Liddle, Guru, Lay, Watts, Anderson, Boyes, Fewster, Blackford

Goal Scorers: Adam Boyes (26’, 45+2’, 76’), Nathan Guru (29’)

Next Match: Kendal Town (h) | Saturday 27th July 2024