Despite dominating in the past 3 league season we have played, it seems like our luck in cups is still an issue as a sole goal knocked us out of the FA Trophy
A week ago we beat Ashton United 2-1 in the league, but this time around things were a lot less successful for your Steelmen.
Before kick-off, there would be issues, as Adam Boyes, along with Oscar Fletcher and Lewis Hawkins, would be unavailable for the match due to injury problems.
However, we would see the return of Luke Spalding, with Andrei Ardelean, Ciaran Banks, and Louis Johnson, all in the day’s starting XI too.
Outside of the torrential downpours that would ultimately be a feature of the entire day, there was very little comment in the first half of this match.
The ball would skid across the pitch, proving to be problematic for both sides, and a few vague chances would overall come to nothing.
A deft spin from Owen Burns would see the following strike deflect off another Redcar player to go behind for a goal kick, and moments later a whipped-in ball across the face of goal but be put over by Andrei.
A distant strike from the hosts would be smothered by Josh Mazfari, a chipped pass from Spalding would go across the face of goal and behind for a goal kick, and Danny Rowe would receive a booking on his birthday.
That would be it. I’m not even joking. The first half was arguably one of the least eventful ones we have ever had, and Ashton’s media team agreed with that thought.
The second half would see little happen early on, with both teams temporarily losing a player in separate incidents, with Danny Rowe being the one to come off for a minute for us, following a head collision after a few set pieces.
We would pass the hour mark, but it would be the Robins who then took the lead, as some chaos in the box saw a great block on the goal line be followed up by the ball rebounding to an Ashton player who slotted a strike into the net.
It seemed like, despite that goal, it was still our defence that was stronger, though, with some great saves coming from Josh Mazfari in the following moments.
Two stops in 3 minutes would be followed by a double sub, with Brad Fewster and Curtis Round entering the pitch in place of Luke Spalding and Louis Johnson.
However, despite those offensive changes, it would be in our defence where the drama would happen, as a hooked arm from Danni Lay would see Ashton receive a penalty, and our captain to receive a straight red.
There was a glimmer of light, though, on what had been both metaphorically and literally a very miserable day, as Josh Mazfari would go low to his left to turn the spot kick onto the post, and Ashton wouldn’t be able to get a second goal.
We would make one final sub as the end approached, with McCartney Woodhouse coming on for Connor Smith in the 88th minute.
The last act of the game would come in added time, as a flashed shot across the face of goal by Ashton would go behind, and that would be that.
Defeat in the cup for your Steelmen, but it does mean we can now fully focus on the league, in which we are still top of it all.
Guiseley on Saturday is our next fixture, with that one being at Green Lane, and then after that there’s a whole new month of football to come!
See you soon
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