Report

After a win in both their opening FA Cup & league matches, the Stan travelled to Redcar on the North Yorkshire coast. Unfortunately, it was not be a happy day out at the seaside as Redcar Athletic comfortably defeated the Stan 3-0. The Steelmen are now top of the league & their victory was aided by a poor performance by the Stan in the 2nd half. There were 2 changes from Saturday’s win with Burn & Errington replacing Slaughter & Adamson.

A beautiful evening at a picturesque coastal setting opened with a 1st minute header by Milburn, supplied by Stephenson, being caught by the home keeper. There was more Stan pressure until Redcar shot wide under pressure in the 4th minute. Redcar attacked again 2 minutes later & the move ended with Brass easily catching. Soon after he had to block an effort followed by Capewell clearing a rebound shot off the line. The Stan then had to clear again. It was then end to end for a while with Pearson putting the ball just wide under pressure in the 16th minute. 2 minutes later & a Redcar effort was deflected over the bar for a corner. In the 20th minute, a good Redcar shot was stopped by a great save by Brass. Hopper countered but eventually lost the ball. From the 24th minute, there was 3 minutes of sustained Stan pressure followed by Redcar shooting just over the bar at the other end. In 29 minutes, Pearson advanced under pressure with the ball & got passed the keeper, but a defender put the ball out for a corner. There was then more Stan pressure including Burn putting a free kick over the bar in 33 minutes. Both teams continued to try & attack as the ball went up & down the pitch. In 42 minutes, an Errington cross to Pearson in the box deflected off a defender then himself before going just wide. 2 minutes later & a Redcar speculative long-range effort hit the crossbar. The Stan finished the half better than they started it & were looking on top & into added time Hopper beat 2 men & passed to Errington in the corner & via Pearson the ball got to Beattie, but he shot wide. The half finished with Hopper advancing with the ball again, but Errington couldn’t connect with his cross.

The 2nd half started with both teams trying to get forward when they could. The stalemate was broken though in 50 minutes when a Redcar attack saw the ball crossed into the 6-yard box from the side & was headed into the net by Round. It was the 1st competitive goal that the Stan had conceded this season. Redcar continued to attack & Brass easily caught a long-range shot. A 4 player Stan attack was then headed clear. Both teams continued to try & threaten each other’s defences although it was Redcar who came closest in 60 minutes when, from a corner, they headed wide. In the 63rd minute, a minute after Shepherd was replaced by Payne, a defensive error allowed Boyes to get 1 on 1 with Brass & he shot past him to make it 2-0 to Redcar. In 64 minutes, a Stan throw in into the Redcar box saw their keeper collide with Hopper, but nothing was given. Both teams continued to try to attack but it was Redcar, who scored again in 73 minutes immediately after 3 Stan substitutions. From a throw in, Boyes advanced & slotted the ball into the Stan net. Both teams kept trying to attack but the Stan appeared less threatening in the last 15 minutes of the match. In 79 minutes, a Redcar header hit the Stan bar. The rebound shot was blocked in the 6yard box & the 2nd one was put wide by a Redcar player. In 81 minutes Brass caught a long range effort. He then had to make a good close range save. After more Redcar pressure, sub Storey did have a shot blocked just before the final whistle.

An unusually below par performance by the Stan, but mainly in the 2nd half, saw them return from the seaside with the football equivalent of a soaking & sand in their sandwiches. On the night they were beaten by the better team. On a positive note, this was only the Stan’s 2nd away defeat of 2025. The club have the chance to bounce back on Saturday as they rejoin their journey towards Wembley when they host Marske United in the FA Cup.

Kevin Mochrie