Redcar Athletic were beaten on debut in the Isuzu FA Trophy - losing out to fellow Northern Premier League side Bradford (Park Avenue) in a heartbreaking penalty shootout.
The hosts took the lead in the tie through Myles La Bastide, but were soon pegged back by a last gasp equaliser from Danni Lay.
Josh Mazfari struck the crossbar after six spot kicks apiece, and the Steelmen crashed out of a second successive competition in a poor week on the road.
A still afternoon at the Horsfall Stadium, Carl Jarrett made three changes to the side that was beaten by Pickering Town in the Emirates FA Cup.
Curtis Round returned in attack – dropping Bradley Fewster to the bench – as Chay Liddle and Joe Taylor came into the midfield. JJ Bartliff missed out through injury.
In truth, there was little to report from the first half of play. Connor Shanks saw his opportunistic finish ruled out for offside, as Oscar Fletcher met the same fate at the other end.
Joe Taylor worked his way through the box on the right flank, blasting his effort wide off a lunging white shirt. Adam Boyes nodded wide of the mark from Dane Burlace’s looping cross.
The second period brought more action for the travelling Redcar faithful. Mark Anderson came off the bench to find Boyes alone with Jack Hall, but the forward couldn’t make the best of a tight angle.
Oscar Fletcher dragged an effort wide of the far post, whilst Louis Chorlton struck the woodwork with a vicious effort from deep as Avenue began to eke out control.
The deadlock was finally broken by a near-post header with an hour on the clock. Joe Akeroyd found Myles La Bastide, and the young forward leaped to beat Josh Mazfari.
Redcar upped the intensity in search of a response. Oscar Fletcher was for the first time denied with a low drive, whilst Anderson dragged wide from the edge of the area.
Bryan Taylor’s dead ball delivery was caught – and spilled – by Jack Hall, and Danni Lay reacted the quickest to send the tie to the lottery that is a penalty shootout.
Bradley Fewster, Mark Anderson and Danni Lay all netted as the Steelmen traded goals with the Avenue, before Dane Burlace’s effort was saved by Hall.
Louis Johnson and Kevin Burgess scored, whilst Josh Mazfari saved, but the shot-stopper struck the crossbar with his own attempt to see the Steelmen exit the Isuzu FA Trophy.
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Match Report: Bradford (Park Avenue) *1-1 Redcar Athletic
Our report as Redcar Athletic exit the Isuzu FA Trophy at the Horsfall Stadium.
