Match Reaction: Redcar Athletic 0-1 Carlisle City

Carl Jarrett reflects on a first defeat in six at BM Bi-Fold Green Lane.

The first team boss lamented Redcar’s quality in ‘both boxes,’ as wasted opportunities and poor defending drew a long unbeaten run to a close.

REPORT: Redcar Athletic 0-1 Carlisle City

Uncharacteristically wasteful in the final third, Redcar again failed to capitalise on controlling possession.

Victim to a late lapse in concentration, a near post corner met by Sky Blues’ captain Dan Kirkup spelled the end of the Steelmen’s purple patch, a credit to the spirited Cumbrians, but perhaps far from a reflection on the game.

CARL JARRETT

Disappointed to see the Steelmen’s winning form come to an end, Carl Jarrett proved understandably pressed by woes in front of goal.

Redcar Athletic failed to find the net for a second match in a row, spurning countless chances to mark their authority, and finally forced to pay the price.

That was a difficult one to take.

Looking back at the way we played, I didn’t think we were clinical in the final third. I thought everything was breaking down, going forward.

Hats off to them (Carlisle City), I thought they defended like ‘troopers’ for their ‘gaffer,’ put their bodies on the line, as they were asked to.

We stuck to our game plan, we had a lot of possession in that game. A good 80% or 90%, but, obviously, as the old cliche says, that doesn’t always win you games.

You’ve got to put the ball in the back of their net, and stop it from going in your own. That’s football.

That’s all it was, we weren’t good enough in both boxes.

We didn’t keep that clean sheet that we wanted. We have been really strong defensively, but I thought it was a poor goal to concede.

Obviously, I thought we also missed a hatful of chances.

The front four, I don’t think they were all firing. Just little balls going wrong at the very end, you know, decision making, key passes.

We just weren’t good enough.

It’s a hard one to take, but, we’ve now got to look forward to Boro Rangers at home on Tuesday night.

A cup semifinal, all the lads have got to be up for it.

We’ve got to stay positive. It’s something for us to have a go at for this season.

We’re going to give it our best shot.

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