Hallam FC (A) – Match Preview

We're off to the oldest ground in the world tomorrow, where we will face Hallam FC in another test for the top of the league Steelmen

Called an “anomaly” by Matlock’s Adam Clayton, the Steelmen have been having a season of dreams.

Top of the league by 10 points, and a goal advantage, 34 goals clear of 2nd placed Matlock, it seems like there will need to be an insane blunder needed for us to slip away from the top.

However, football is always unpredictable, and you just need to focus on the next three points.

Hopefully, those next 3 come tomorrow, where we face a Hallam side who are currently unbeaten in their last 8 matches

The Countymen’s last match against us saw Redcar win 4-1, with Adam Boyes and Louis Johnson both getting a brace in what was a comfortable w.in

Since then, Hallam have had a mixed bag of results that now sees them sitting 12th in the league

Their biggest win since we last faced them saw Halam beat Blyth Town 3-0, whilst their heaviest defeat saw them once again lose 4-1, this time at home, against Brighouse Town.

Just one Hallam player has scored more than 2 goals at home this campaign, with Brodie Litchfield being the club’s leading goalscorer, though his total tally of 9 would put him 5th highest in the list of Redcar Athletic goalscorers.

An unbeaten January for Hallam has seen them grab a vital point against Emley, alongside a 2-2 draw against Lincoln United, and a 3-1 win away to Dunston as well.

Their last 3 matches of this month see an even tougher test though, with us up next, Garforth on Tuesday, and then finally a home match against Matlock.

Facing all the sides in the top 3 is a cruel schedule, but at least on the bright side, it means they don’t have to face any of us for the rest of the season.

As for the Steelmen, as stated, things have been decent for us. The draws to Consett and Dunston feel like distant memories, with January’s form showing 4 wins from 4, though there are still 3 more matches to go as well.

After Hallam, there is another away trip, this time to Heaton Stannington, before we end the month with a home fixture against Newton Aycliffe

Though if patterns are to be believed, then we should be scoring 4 against Hallam, 1 against Heaton, and then 4 against Newton Aycliffe…though I struggle to see that all coming true

Adam Boyes is still 2nd in the Steps top scorer charts, though he has now been matched by Reece Hallard of Three Bridges, with Albie Hall still in the lead, though that lead has just 1 goal in .it

Another scoring stat for us is that we are also the highest scoring side from the Prem down to Step 6!

That means, and I’ve just had to add this up, we are 1st out of 1,088 teams. Hopefully, that position, along with our league one, holds up for the rest of the season

At the other end, though, 3 clean sheets in our last 4 matches means we still are looking solid from back to front, with Carl Jarrett running nearly unchanged squads all month long

Who knows what the rest of the season will bring, be it more goals, more wins, or Danni Lay being put up front again and scoring a hat trick.

Either way, that about wraps up this preview, and as long as the match is on, then I hope to see you at Sandygate tomorrow afternoon

We will let you know if the match is canceled though, and whether it is on or off, you can catch live updates on our X page!

As always, though, take care, and up the Steelmen!