You can’t judge a team by its friendlies as the Stan were beaten by their Wearside league opponents although the 3-5-2 formation didn’t appear to work.

The 1^st 10 minutes saw both teams try to attack although the 1^st clear opportunity came to Redcar in 11 minutes when a 40-yard free kick into a crowded Stan box saw Martin get his fingertips to the ball. 2 minutes later and Martin dropped another effort which Stoddart had to clear. There were a few minutes of Redcar pressure and the Stan didn’t have another attack until the 20^th minute.

The best chance of the game so far came 2 minutes later when McCarthy sent a great ball up and across to Johnson in the box who laid it off for the advancing Jones who unfortunately slipped. Redcar continued to press and it paid off in 31 minutes when Webster broke free and comfortably shot past both Martin and an advancing defender. After another similar Redcar attack, the Stan were level in 35 minutes after Jones sent a great ball in from the right to the advancing Robinson who, with defenders round him, tapped the ball into the net from 6 yards. A minute later a Redcar player broke free but Martin blocked. The last 5 minutes of the half saw the Stan constantly attacking including 2 Robinson efforts that were blocked.

The restart saw Maughan replace Martin in goals and he was beaten in 51 minutes when a Redcar player broke free and when Deagle couldn’t stop him he passed to another advancing Redcar player who slotted the ball into the net. The Stan sought an equaliser and Portella had a great effort in 60 minutes from just outside the box when he shot wide.

It was 3-1 to Redcar in 64 minutes when Webster slid in to put a ball from a free kick past Maughan. Maughan then had to get down to stop another effort before the Stan attacked through Laidler. In 69 minutes, the Redcar keeper caught a Hoggins header. Both teams had another effort and soon after a Watchman long shot went wide, in 77 minutes a ball to Laidler saw him beat a player and advance into the box where he passed to Partella. His effort from 6 yards was fumbled by the keeper and Hoggins put the rebound away.

The match quietened down until 86 minutes when Partella passed to Holland who then advanced up the wing and passed towards Robinson. The Redcar keeper caught the ball but only after nearly putting the ball into his own net. The Stan sought an equaliser and 2 minutes to go saw Robinson beat 2 defenders but the keeper got down to save. Into injury time and a Watchman effort in a crowded box went just wide and Laidler was brought down on the edge of the box but Partella’s free kick hit the wall as time ran out for the Stan.

Stan: Martin, Stoddart, Deagle, Ray, McCarthy, Dixon, McKenna, Johnson, Robinson, Jones, Laidler.

Subs (all used): Maughan, Chapman, James, Holland, Portella, Doyle, Hoggins, Watchman.

Goals: Robinson 35, Hoggins 77.

Attendance: Unknown

Kevin Mochrie