A top of the table clash that didn’t disappoint as league leaders Redcar Town would face up against the the league’s i form team in Yarm & Eaglescliffe. A Tom Atkinson hattrick and a late goal from Joe Dalton were enough to give Y&E the 3 points and keep their automatic promotion hopes alive.
Match report from Jo McCue
As the teams emerged a sense of anticipation echoed around a busy Mo Mowlam Memorial Park. It didn’t take long for Y&E to take a foothold in the game as in the first minute a strong strike from Tom Atkinson would prove too much for the keeper as his hand isn’t enough to stop the ball looping in to the goal. After a quick start Redcar would see their first chance of the game as their winger burst past Sam Conway and into the box where he went down under a challenge from Sam, but the ref waved on play. Not much else would happen for Redcar after a few long balls are dealt with brilliantly by the Y&E defence. Y&E would keep knocking on the door after a few good half chances but nothing would go on Then in the 31st minute a Tom Atkinson shot was blocked by a Redcar hand, an from the resulting free kick on the edge of the box which he would then fire home after Harry Titchner rolled it to him making it 2-0. On the stroke of half time Redcar would get the last chance of the half to try and grab a goal but a dangerous freekick was hit straight at Callum in the Y&E goal.
After a strong first half Y&E would start the second half the better side but couldn’t find the 3rd goal. Then a close-range header from Redcar would call Callum into action and he made a lovely save to keep the 2-0 lead. Only minutes later Josh Marshall would win the ball back off the keeper from a high press and play into the path of Tom Atkinson. Then you know the rest as his first shot is saved but then from a tight angle, he rolls the ball into the back of the net for his hattrick and a 3-0 lead.
After a few subs from Redcar and a change in shape they would get a dangerous corner with 20 minutes left which they would fire home to ignite some hope in the home side. A tense 20 minutes would remain as the home side would gain momentum and win a questionable penalty just six minutes later which is cleanly put away for 3-2.
With the pressure on Redcar were searching for the equaliser and looked like they would get it but up steps Joe Dalton who wins the ball back high and beats his man to cooly slot home the winner which sent the away fans crazy. With nine minutes added and Redcar now needing two goals Sam Conway would see himself sent off for a push on a Redcar player. With Redcar piling it on now Y&E would have to dig deep to hold out for the win. Some heroic defending from the Y&E backline would deny Redcar with a couple of chances in the box. After what seemed to be an eternity a tired Y&E would be rewarded with the final whistle being blown to end what can only be described as an amazing game which saw Y&E come out on top and put themselves tin with a chance of sealing automatic promotion, needing Recar to drop points in their last game.
