Match Report: Ashton United 1-2 Redcar Athletic

A solid first half was enough for your Steelmen to increase our gap at the top of the table, albeit with Cleethorpes having two games in hand

Our first game in Ashton was not a successful one, and so there was added hope to get all three points against Ashton United, with the main focus being to cement our spot at the top of the league.

The match did start with a worrying sign, though, as an Ashton chance saw a ball worked into the box, though Mazfari won it

We would then have a couple of chances of our own before our keeper pulled off a solid early stop to keep the game goalless, as Josh Mazfari pushed a low shot away, and we then cleared the rebound.

The referee would award some questionable fouls in the way of the hosts, with Danni Lay receiving an early booking, too, but it would be the Steelmen who took the lead on the day.

Oscar Fletcher would receive the ball out wide and sweep a pass into the box that would land at the feet of Brad Fewster, and, for the third time in a row, he would get on the scoresheet as his shot would go past the keeper and into the far corner.

From the 20th minute, there would be some interesting play, as Danny Rowe would seemingly become a magnet, with our defender winning countless headers in a matter of minutes.

An acrobatic attempt from the hosts would see the shot go over the bar, and a few vague chances at both ends would see both goalkeepers catch the ball.

There would be a second for us, though, as a stellar pass from Oscar would find the feet of Adam Boyes, who would then be able to run through and slip the ball into the net, doubling our tally on the day.

The final chance of the half would see a driven strike from Ashton go past the post, and the interval would soon follow with your Steelmen two goals to the good

We would start the second half with a change, as Owen Burns would come on for the double-assisting Oscar Fletcher.

The start of this half would be quite uneventful, with the ball either being intercepted, cleared, or put out for a throw-in, and although Nathan Guru did have an impressive long throw in his repertoire, he was unable to create an assist as the Robin’s defence would get in the way.

Louis Johnson would be brought on around the hour mark, taking the place of Lewis Hawkins, and within seconds of that sub there would be a great chance for a third, as a wide free kick would be headed onto the post by Adam Boyes.

Some chances for Ashton would be unsuccessful, with the hosts’ best opportunity seeing a blistering counter end with a blazed shot over the bar.

There’d be a third Steelmen sub, with Ciaran Banks brought on for Curtis Round, and there would be a lifeline for the hosts as the final few minutes approached, with a header from their substitute creeping in to halve the deficit.

We would make a fourth change soon after too, with Andrei Ardelean brought on for Brad Fewster, and the final ten minutes would be spent with fingernails being bitten, as Ashton amped up the pressure.

A fantastic save from Josh Mazfari would save us late on, as a drilled shot would be tipped behind, with that save coming after a string of chances for hosts, and we would then very nearly get a third in added time.

After holding the ball up in the corner, a slick move would then be produced by Louis, who would lay a pass to Boyes, though his attempt would be held.

There would be one final chance for us after that, though it would end rather unspectacularly as the Ashton United defence would intercept the ball in their box, before a counter would be halted by the linesman’s flag, and that would be that.

Three points in the league, which is all you need, and our next league fixture will see us welcome Guiseley to Green Lane.

Our next fixture overall, though? We are back off to Ashton United next Saturday as we resume our FA Trophy journey.

Hope to see you at both!

Line-ups:

Redcar Athletic: Mazfari, Guru, Round [Banks, 75′], Bartliff, Rowe, Lay (C), Smith, Hawkins [Johnson, 60′], Boyes, Fletcher [Burns, 46′], Fewster [Ardelean, 81′]

Unused subs: Burgess

Ashton United: Taylor, Knight, Kendall, Okome, Naylor [O’Neill, 84′], Spooner, Byrne (C), Burgess [Nelson, 46′], Willoughby [Scanlon, 91′], Osei [Johnson, 71′], Hardy [Swales, 89′]

Unused subs: N/A