Jarrow FC 3 – 2 Redcar Town (08/09/2021 – 7.30pm Kick Off)

Northern League Division 2

08/09/2021 – 7.30pm Kick Off

Jarrow FC 3 – 2 Redcar Town

14’, 82’ Blackburn, 26’ Shaw | 64’ Bennet, 68’ Webster

Another hundred plus crowd saw Jarrow overcome newly promoted Redcar Town in a 5-goal appreciation of good football despite the England game being on at the same time! With both sides in form Redcar were looking for a 4^th win in 5 and Jarrow were aiming for a record 5 wins in 5 since joining the Northern League.

While England were preparing to battle it out in Poland Ross Toward was firing just over the bar from 20 yards for Jarrow’s first chance after only a few minutes and the warning signs of a good game were there to be seen.

Jarrow started the brighter and managed to get close to the Redcar players who were desperate to get the ball down and play, but Jarrow quite happy to close that space and not allow them any time to play.

Jarrow settled nicely into the game and a Mcall effort that flew over bar was testament to their early endeavour. The back 4 were once again holding a stylish line and clearing everything in front of them with Summers & Donnelly almost dismissive of any balls over the top.

Redcar however were supremely confident in possession and always looked for that forward pass to unlock the Jarrow defence that had kept a valiant clean sheet in the previous game.

The deadlock was broken however in contentious circumstances as Darryll Donnelly played the ball forward towards Jason Blackburn who in letting the ball run past him managed to turn his man and get a first time shot away. The keeper went down to collect it but it inexplicably went through his legs. He desperately scrambled to claw the ball away to safety but the linesman judged the ball to be over the line and the goal was controversially given.

If the 1^st goal was contentious the 2^nd was brilliance. Leading goal scorer Blackburn found himself on the right wing and after demanding the ball swung in a Shearer-esq cross into the box. Showing his aerial prowess Gary Shaw once again found the net with his 4^th goal of the season heading into the left-hand side of the goal leaving the keeper with no chance.

Lots of possession followed for Redcar but their patient passing style was struggling to create chances and when Jason went on a jinky run down the right-hand side his cross to Kris Allen was perfect, Kris side footed the ball towards goal but a brilliant stop from the keeper flinging himself at the feet of the Jarrow man turned the ball behind for a corner.

Into the 2^nd half and it was Jarrow who started the brighter again as they looked to kill off the game. Kris Allen had two efforts blocked in the same move after a Gary Shaw knock down and with Redcar still looking dangerous a 3^rd goal just wouldn’t come.

After that Jarrow chance the home side were forced to sit deeper as Redcar started to force them back for the first time in the game and through a succession of corners started knocking loudly on the door.

Redcar then had their best chance of the game as a cross shot from the left narrowly missed the outstretched boot of number 9 who looked slightly offside. There was a touch by a Jarrow man on its way behind and the corner was swung in from the right. A near post header was then dispatched and Hubery beaten at his near as the ball flashed past everyone to make it 2-1 and a deserved goal back for their second half performance.

Then in 68^th minute came the second contentious decision of the evening. The Redcar player clearly fell over before any contact from a defender but remarkably the referee gave a free kick on the edge of the box. That free was expertly struck and beat Steve to his right-hand side to draw the scores level with just over 20 minutes to play.

Jarrow huffed and puffed after that goal as Redcar had been the better side in the 2^nd half, the home side struggling for fluency in their build up but they did keep going and trying to win the game.

Yet more corners followed for Redcar but the back 4 held firm, Summers & Donnelly heading everything clear, Bone solid and industrious and Scott Wallace who never gave the ball away all forming a defensive wall that was now working well.

Brian Johnson also kept up his array of passing with a ball over the top to Blackburn but his lob could only land on the top of the net as we entered the last 10 with both sides still thinking they could win it.

Redcar did almost do just that as the defence finally missed a ball played to the back post, the striker controlled well but as he shot Hubery got down well to block it behind for another corner.

Then with a few minutes remaining sub Channon North won the ball in the Jarrow half and played it to Shaw who switched the play to Blackburn on the left. Blackburn controlled and cut back inside, drilling the ball towards the near post beating the keeper and winning the game.

A nervy last few minutes kept hearts pumping as yet more corners from the away side ultimately amounted to nothing and Jarrow hung on for a 5^th win in a row and the second time in 5 games after leading 2-0, being pegged back to 2-2 the lads managed to nick the win. Jason Blackburn grabbing 2 goals, 1 assist & a 3^rd MOTM award!

Attendance:- 139