West Allotment were unable to record back-to-back league wins and will remain bottom of the Northern League Division One after a 2-1 defeat at home against Redcar Athletic.
The first half was open and both sides were managing to carve out opportunities in front of goal, perhaps West Allotment with the better chances.
Callum Larmouth scored his 18th goal of the season through a sensational free-kick to put his side in the lead midway through the first half.
Redcar responded well and were able to bundle the ball over the line on the stroke of half time to bring the score level going into the break. Midway through the second half, the visitors grabbed their second goal through Jordan Rivis which ultimately decided the contest.
Allotment arguably started the better of the two sides. After 4 minutes, Baltazar played the ball across the box from the right and found Regan Paterson who bent a shot just past the target from the edge of the box.
On 8 minutes, Larmouth was next to come close as his shot on his left foot went into the goalkeeper's gloves.
After 10 minutes, Redcar tested Finn Hodgson for the first time of the afternoon. A shot from long-range was tipped around the post to keep the score level. Five minutes later, they had another golden opportunity as Walker drilled a ball across the goalmouth however, nobody was there to get on the end of it.
Midway through the first half the hosts began to turn up the pressure. On 25 minutes, Paterson crossed the ball into the box where Dawson fumbled the ball into the path of Matty Hayton however, the ball came at him just a little bit too quickly and he was unable to take advanatge.
The deadlock was broken on 27 minutes courtesy of Callum Larmouth. He won a free kick in a dangerous area and then stepped up to take the free kick. He took it beautifully as the ball cannoned into the back of the net off the post.
The visitors were able to get back onto level terms on 44 minutes. A well struck shot was well-saved by Hodgson for a corner. The corner was swung into the front post where the ball was bundled over the line. Harry Williams the man with the goal.
The second half saw far fewer chances as their was no efforts on goal until the 59th minute. Hayton saw a close range shot saved brilliantly by Dawson. The resulting corner was fizzed into the box and Chapim was unable to keep his header down after getting on the end of it.
On the 65th minute, Hodgson was called into action once again for Allotment as he produced a brilliant save which went out for a corner to Redcar.
Once again, the corner undone the Allotment defence and Rivas was there to prod the ball home to put the visitors into the lead for the first time in the afternoon.
With just over 10 minutes to go, Redcar nearly added a third but Hodgson once again pulled off a fine double-save to keep out Walker and Williams.
The visitors killed the game off in the last few minutes and we were unable to find an equalising goal.
Allotment: Hodgson, Higgins (Martins 57'), Parkinson (Trodd 52'), Chapim, Scott (c), Errington, Paterson, Thompson, Hayton, Larmouth, Baltazar
Goal: Larmouth (27')
Attendance: 83
NEXT UP | We host Billingham town this coming Tuesday (19/10/21) at East Palmersville Sports Pavilion - 7:30pm KO in Northern League Division One action.
Photos - Graeme Jackson