Match Report: Redcar Athletic 6-1 Grimsby Borough

I'm starting to run out of new headlines for these reports. We keep winning, and we keep scoring.

Three points, a lot of goals, and someone getting a brace. Which game is that, you ask? Oh, it’s any of our last 5 matches.

Once again, we stormed to victory in the league, with the main talking point being the return of Oscar Fletcher and the 4 goals he proceeded to bag.

After a nasty toe injury against Garforth, the midfielder had to sit the Newton Aycliffe game out, alongside John Howard.

However, Fletcher passed a late fitness test and was rewarded with a starting spot in the side, playing next to Owen Burns

The first half, largely, was frustrating for us, with Grimsby’s defence proving to be incredibly difficult to break down.

Borough defender Adelekan appeared to be a focal issue as he seemed to stop any attack from truly forming, but as a whole, Grimsby’s entire backline was seemingly a problem.

Our first prime chance came in the 31st minute, when a tame back pass was nabbed by Boyes, but his shot was awkwardly hit and it wound up in the keeper’s hands

A 35th minute corner was headed towards goal by Rio May, but the legs of the Grimsby keeper cleared it away from the box, again keeping us at bay

But that frustration went in the 41st minute, when Fletcher was at the back post to meet a flicked on header by Boyes, following a cross from Round, and poked it into the net, giving us the lead just before the interval

Oscar wasn’t done yet though, and in a moment of magic produced one of the best strikes I’ve seen, as the ball cam to him on the edge of the box, and first time he unleashed a curling shot that flew into the top right corner, leaving the keeper with no chance.

Our lead was doubled, and we promptly entered the half time break

The 2nd half began with the sun now in my eyes, but more importantly, the Grimsby defence’s eyes.

Whether that helped us or not, in the 50th minute Fletcher got his hat trick as Curtis Round whipped in a free kick that narrowly went over Rio May, but not narrowly over Oscar, and he was able to head it into the goal.

3 minute on, and he had his, and our 4th goal, as Burlace received the ball back from a corner and floated it into the box where once again, Fletcher was on hand to nod it into the net.

We now led 4-0, a scoreline that, after the start of the first half, seemed so improbable.

After that, Grimsby began to up the pressure, with some solid defending and goalkeeping preventing them from getting a goal

Up until the 68th minute, where a lucky break allowed substitute Rio Molyneaux to round Mazfari and jab the ball into the net.

This goal was quickly forgotten, though, as in the 79th minute, our own substitute bagged his first of the afternoon.

That sub was Louis Johnson, who was on the receiving end of a pass from Bartliff, following some amazing dribbling from last game’s man of the match. Johnson took a touch following that pass, and put the ball into the bottom left corner

3 minutes on from that, and he had his second, as once again he got the ball, took a touch, and put it in the identical corner where he put his first.

A few more audacious chances from the Steelmen came and went, with the final highlight being from Adam Boyes, with the striker trying to also bag a goal, he chipped it over the Grimsby goalie, but his effort narrowly went past the post.

We still ended the game with victory though, a resounding 6-1 win to see out the week.

Up next, we stay at the Hollou on Wednesday night, where we host Ashington in another important match

Match preview will be out soon, hope to see you at the Hollou in just a few days!