Today’s opposition were on a swift upwards trajectory after struggling in the early season games, with the team almost looking like a completely different set of players.

The home team started slightly on top, winning a number of fouls, some with more contact than others. This led to friction between the two sides, as Redcar became increasingly frustrated with the antics of the home side, with claims of them going down easily. With their forwards doing their finest Arjen Robben impressions, yelping at the slightest.

It all came to a head, when two players from both teams were sin-binned after clashing over another disputed foul.

This is where the experience of the Redcar side took over, as while being two defenders down, they took the lead through top scorer Matty Earl. A good save from the impressive RA keeper fell to Earl who drove a powerful shot first time into the back of the net.

The away team were awarded a penalty shortly after, Turbo Toes, Matty Welham, won consecutive headers leading to Ellis Hoyland bearing down goal. A clever turn of pace drew a clumsy tackle from the covering defender.

Unfortunately, the usually reliable Earl’s penalty was excellently saved by the goalkeeper.

Damon Hill, grew more and more into the game. His pace and directness, causing problems and drawing another save from the goalkeeper.

The away side went into the break with a goal advantage knowing that the result would solidify their standing at the top of the table.

The second half began with more of the same from Redcar, solid in defence, strong in midfield and dangerous in attack.

Captain, Christian Taylor marshalling the back line, and Jack Johnston moving back into his more familiar central midfield role, both dictating the pace of the game.

Redcar’s lead was doubled through talisman, Josef Brown, who skinned two defenders at the edge of the area, before slamming a shot in off the far post.

The lead was halved soon after, a long ball played behind the Redcar defence looked to have been going out of play. However, the RA attacker seemed to use a hand to keep the ball in play.

The ball was then played across the 6 yard box, which should’ve been collected by Cal Jones, if he’d have brought his hands. It found the opposite RA player coming in off the opposite wing and tapping the ball home. Rather than celebrate with his team, he decided to try and ‘rattle’ Earl, who’d scored earlier in the game. Strange.

The two goal lead was soon restored, Earl cutting in from the left in trademark fashion, before whipping his shot into the near top corner past the despairing dive of the keeper. That’s his 14th in what’s been a largely injury hit season for Matty who’s looking to be CFs top scorer for a 4th consecutive year.

He ran past his opponent, and goaded him, just as he’d tried to do, but that’s much easier when you’re winning.

Redcar began to turn the screw with Ellis Hoyland making way for latest signing, Tom Jones, and Ceej Middleton for Matty Welham.

Chances soon followed, Joe Brown getting on the end of a brilliant slid through ball from John Carew (Jack Flanigan) and would’ve made it 4 if not for an incredible save from the keeper.

With the likes of Taylor, ‘Dirty’ Dickinson, Middleton and Johnston dictating the pace of the game, the home team were left to shout ‘let’s see this one out to the end boys’, after the referee had confirmed we’d entered the final 5 minutes.

Things were made nervy as against the run of play, RA found themselves with a goal back. A loose clearance found the winger, through on goal and he smashed a finish into the roof of the mouth.

In the words of JoJo, it was just Too Little Too Late for the home team. Despite claims of an unfair victory for the away team, the scoreline didn’t reflect the game, as if not for the RA keeper, signed this week, and two mistakes, Redcar could’ve been even further ahead.

However, as they have done for nearly every league game this season, Redcar came out on top.

Redcar will be looking for more of the same patient and positive football next week when they play North Ormesby WMC, who’ll be looking to make ground on the teams above them for a promotion run.