Liverpool Sandstone 0 Sunderland RCA The Barnes 2

Sunday, 9 January 2011

Carlsberg FA Sunday Cup - Third Round - at Runcorn Town

RCA The Barnes came through a tough challenge at Runcorn against Liverpool Sandstone by two goals to nil, to progress to the last 16 of this prestigious competition, the furthest they have been since they first entered four years ago.

A strong squad travelled down and the game kicked off in remarkably good conditions, the pitch being just on the soft side. RCA started on the offensive from the very first minute with the central midfield pairing of Richy Jordan and Jonathan Davis taking control and wide men Lee McMahon and, in particular, David Newby stretching the Sandstone defence immediately. It was no surprise that after only five minutes a delightful chipped pass from Davis found Jordan in the penalty area and he danced round the keeper and slotted home to put RCA 1 - 0 up.

The game continued in much the same pattern. RCA had numerous further chances to increase their lead with forwards Willie Crew and Andy Place being thwarted by the strenuous efforts of the Sandstone keeper along with some bad luck and poor finishing. Nevertheless after 25 minutes Willie Crew got clear again down the left flank and pulled the ball back to Jonathan Davis 25 yards out, who, after controlling the ball, rifled an unstoppable shot into the bottom left hand corner to give RCA a deserved 2-0 lead.

Up until this point the back four of McVay, Curtis, captain Hall and Metcalfe had never been troubled, but when the tricky right winger from Sandstone worked his way down the goal line he was adjudged to have been fouled and a penalty was awarded to Sandstone. But just as in the previous round the almost redundant Neal Atkinson rose to the occasion and dived to his left to hang on to the ball and keep the score at 2 - 0 at half time.

RCA knew Sandstone would come out fighting in the second half, but they did themselves no favours when their right back put in a nasty challenge on McMahon and then overreacted in blaming McMahon and threw him to the ground with a head lock, the resulting red card was followed by a cowardly slap on the same player as he left the field.

RCA then resumed their total domination and after John Turvey was introduced for Crew after 55 minutes, they continued to dreate openings, but found the Sandstone keeper in outstanding form. Jordan was replaced by the returning Callum Charlton on 70 minutes and then Atkinson was again called upon to produce an excellent right handed save in one of Sandstone's rare forays into the RCA penalty area.

RCA had to keep their discipline and played out the remainder of the match without mishap, with Dillon Holden getting the last five minutes, on for the outstanding Jonathan Davis, while Sandstone had another player dismissed for a second yellow card.

All in all a very satisfactory afternoon's work which means we are back in Liverpool on Sunday, 23 January for a fourth round encounter against the 2009 beaten finalists Liverpool Oyster Martyrs. Keep an eye on the web site for details of travel arrangements and once again any supporters are more than welcome on the coach.

Special thanks also to Martin Swales who stood in as team manager for the unavoidably absent Gary Errington and well done to all involved on the day.