Redcar Athletic Under-23s fought from behind to retain second place

Athletic had a great chance to take the lead on eight minutes when wingback Cam Thomson crossed to the back post to David Bradley, but the Connexsys keeper made a quite outstanding save, clawing the ball away from the goal line.

It was the away side who took the lead on 13 minutes, taking advantage of defensive uncertainty to take the lead.

Athletic suffered a further blow on 31 minutes when Kian Brodie was unable to continue due to injury.

However, Athletic fought back and gained a deserved equaliser on 40 minutes. Charlie Longster, who was outstanding all game in a deep-lying midfield role, played in Adil Hanif, who saw his shot saved, but left wingback Tyler Atkinson was on hand to net the rebound.

After a fairly frantic first half, the game calmed down in the early stages of the second half, with neither team able to create much in the early stages.

That changed on 60 minutes when a sublime through ball from Jack Marshall found Adil Hanif, who escaped his marker, raced into the box and finished neatly across the keeper.

As the half developed, it was Athletic in the ascendancy, and Cam Thomson drew another good save from the Connexsys keeper on 79 minutes.

However, Athletic weren’t to be denied and got a deserved third goal on 82 minutes when David Bradley sent Adil Hanif clear, and the striker made no mistake from eight yards out to seal the win, and keep the team in second place in the table.