Redcar Athletic made an impressive start to life in the Pitching In Northern Premier League East with a comfortable victory over the famous Blyth Spartans at Croft Park.
Adam Boyes made the difference in the Northumbrian sun. His brace sandwiched Curtis Round’s simple finish, as Bradley Fewster took the plaudits for a fourth.
A consolation for Spartans’ Mathew Slocombe prevented the Steelmen from topping the table on opening day.
The sun was shining on a packed Croft Park as the Pitching In Northern Premier League East began its latest iteration with two new members.
Of the pair, it was the travelling Steelmen who made the better start. Quick interplay through the midfield freed JJ Bartliff, who drew a smart stop from the hosts’ Callum Dobson.
A similar move offered Adam Boyes his first bite – from which he was denied – before he dispatched an inviting through ball from Oscar Fletcher to open the scoring.
The forward almost repeated the feat moments later when he was found by JJ Bartliff, this time dragging his effort narrowly wide of the far post.
Bryan Taylor found Oscar Fletcher, who was ultimately dispossessed, whilst strikes from both Bartliff and John Howard failed to breach a scrambling backline.
It was former Spartan Curtis Round who added much needed daylight ahead of the break. Dane Burlace played the ball across the box, and the forward was on hand in the centre to apply the finishing touch.
Redcar picked up where play left off when the second half began. Adam Boyes turned in the box to drop two defenders, beating Callum Dobson with a vicious volley.
Mathew Slocombe snatched a thin shred of hope for the hosts when he beat Josh Mazfari to pick out the far top corner.
That glimmer was soon dashed by Bradley Fewster. It was a simple finish from the forward to restore the Steelmen’s three-goal lead, beating Dobson in a near mirror-image of Boyes’ first.
Admittedly, it could have been more for a rampant Redcar. Oscar Fletcher had a golden opportunity to snatch his first league goal, prodding wide from close-range.
He fired another effort wide as the onslaught. Fewster again went close, but missed the target, as Danni Lay’s headed effort was cleared off the line.
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