Match Report: Redcar Athletic 3-1 Avro FC

Back at Green Lane, and we were welcoming an Avro side who had been in fine goalscoring form, but were also playing their last match between managers

An interesting premise on Tuesday night, as an Avro side who had spent a chunk of the season scoring for fun came up against a Redcar Athletic side who, bar that blip away to Curzon Ashton, had gone unbeaten in the league.

What followed was a result that, for the 6th time this season, had seen the home side in a Steelmen fixture score three.

An unchanged Redcar XI took to the field, though it was Avro who would start stronger as a first-time strike in the opening five minutes would be blasted behind.

We would then get a good chance of our own, as Adam Boyes would get the ball in the box, where he would lay a pass off to Curtis Round, though a defender would block his attempt.

Another Avro chance would see a header put over, and up the other end there would be a dubious call: Boyes would be set through, only to have an arm hooked around him as he was dragged to the floor just outside the box.

The fouling Avro player would only receive a booking, though, despite the pleas of our players, fans, and coaches, and we would have to just keep trying as the following free kick would be put over the bar.

A chaotic corner in the 20th minute would see the ball swarmed on by both sides before eventually being cleared, and another great chance for Avro would be blazed over in the 25th minute.

It would be us to take the lead though, as some great skill from Oscar Fletcher allowed him to slip past a challenge before laying a pass off to Fewster, who would lift a shot across the goal and into the far side to put us ahead.

Another shot from the visitors would go over, and that would follow a strike from oscar that would go narrowly wide, before we would then double our advantage just before the break.

A long ball would find Adam Boyes, who would outmuscle a defender before playing a short pass to Brad, who, for the second time in ten minutes, would score for us as he rolled the ball into the net.

Those two goals would see us lead at the break in what was a solid start for the Steelmen

Avro would start the second half stronger, as a wide free kick in the first five minutes of the restart would be whipped in and nodded past Mazfari.

Some great saves from Avro’s keeper would prevent us from a third goal, as Brad Fewster, Danny Rowe, and Oscar Fletcher would all see on-target attempts pushed away from goal, and up the other end Josh Mazfari was having to stay on his toes to gather a bunch of balls played into the box.

It wasn’t just gathering that he had to do, though, as he was forced into a great save to tip a fierce strike away from goal in the 66th minute.

Things would get worrying for us in the 70th minute, though, as an Avro attacker would be ushered off the pitch, and the referee would deem it a punishable offence as he pointed to the spot.

Avro’s shot placement issue was to continue, though, as the Vulcans’ spot kick would be blasted high and wide, with the ball leaving our ground, much to the enjoyment of our fans.

Matters would get worse for the visitors too, as from the resulting goal kick we would produce a great move that would end with Brad Fewster getting his hat-trick as he would lift a delicate chip over the keeper and into the net.

A lone sub would see Owen Burns come on for Lewis Hawkins, and the final 15 minutes would be largely uneventful as Mazfari would deal with the rare few chances Avro would form as the game drew to a close.

That would be it too, as the full-time whistle would come with celebrations as we would continue our fine form at home, and pick up another three points!

Up next is a trip to Ashton United, that is to be followed… by a trip to Ashton United.

Hope to see you at both

Line-ups:

Redcar Athletic: Mazfari, Guru, Round, Bartliff, Rowe, Lay (C), Smith, Hawkins [Burns, 72′], Boyes, Fletcher, Fewster

Unused subs: Ardelean, Banks, Spalding, Johnson

Avro FC: Robinson, Thiam, Owen, Morrow (C) [Atkinson, 10′], Fitzpatrick, Cottrell [Harrop, 60′], Dyson [Kershaw, 77′], Hickman, Lowe [Ehimamiegho, 85′], Salt, Smith

Unused subs: Bailey