Spennymoor Town FC 2 Sunderland RCA FC 0

Saturday, 31 March 2012

STL Northern League Division 1

RCA's defence got a work out against a well-organised Spennymoor attack.

Scorers: Spennymoor: Graydon, Ryan. SRCA: None

Please click here for photos from the match

The manager once again made no changes to the team although the inclusion of new signings, Dale Jardine and Harrison Davies on the bench meant that there was more attacking options in the squad.

Unfortunately for RCA today they met a Spennymoor team who were almost at the top of their game and for all of their endeavour RCA found it difficult to match them.

Two major lapses in concentration lead to the goals, Graydon will always punish you if given amount of space the RCA defence gave him and in Ruddy they had a great outlet on the right and this provided Ryan with the second goal. It could have been different for RCA if Walton's shot hadn't rebounded safely after hitting both posts or Jennings' header from two yards out was better directed.

RCA still remain at the top of the table but their lead is a tenuous one, six points clear, but Spennymoor, West Auckland, and Dunston all have games in hand.

Spennymoor started brightly playing some good football and causing RCA problems with their pace and movement from the off. However for all their possession they were unable to make it count in the final third and it was RCA who created the first real chance of the game when Davidson crossed to the far post and Walton forced a save from Dean with a well placed header. The resulting corner was flicked on by Jennings and Beasley coming in at the back post headed over the bar. Two minutes later RCA were awarded another corner and this time Walton took it and found Jennings. but his header was blocked by Dean and flew over for another corner. Moors withstood this pressure and got back in the game with Johnston’s wicked shot saved by Atkinson. Then Kallum Griffiths got in on action, finding space on the right he crossed perfectly for Cogdon but he volleyed over from ten yards out. Within a minute another Griffiths cross from the right saw Moore with a free header, but he could only direct it straight at the Atkinson. Moors looked to be in control at this point and it took some good defending by the RCA defence to keep them at bay.

Griffiths played a one two with Cogdon and really should have done better than blaze the ball over the bar. A Graydon free kick was a little too far in front of the outstretched head of Moore and he could only direct it wide. RCA bounced back and started to show some attacking moves of their own as half time approached.

A cross into the box from McGuinness was headed into the path of Walton by Davison and his shot from the edge of the box was saved by Dean and Davidson pouncing on the rebound had his effort turned round the post for a corner. Paxton rose highest to the corner from Davidson but his header was easily saved by Dean. The final chance of the first half fell to Graydon but his free kick was saved by Atkinson.

The second half started as the first with Moors piling on the pressure.

Two corners in quick succession saw Leon Ryan force a diving save out of Atkinson from the first, the second was punched clear, but fell to Graydon who was allowed to run into space before unleashing a low shot into the bottom corner of the net. Graydon should have wrapped the game up five minutes later when a mix up in the RCA defence saw Beasley and Paxton collide leaving Graydon with a free shot at goal but he lifted the ball over the bar.

As Moors started to dictate and Graydon started to run the midfield RCA were once again being asked questions and were responding with some good solid defensive work. Beasley was booked for a foul on Ruddy down the right, and Graydon sent in a great free kick which saw Moore once again out jump the RCA defence, but his header went well over the bar.

RCA showed their resilience and started to get back into the game with a couple of good efforts. Walton crossed for Davison and the RCA striker headed over, then a quick break from Walton saw him square the ball for Close, but the Ryan was able to get across to block the shot.

When a dubious corner was awarded RCA almost took advantage and really should have equalized. McGuinness took the kick and drove it to the far post where Walton rose and headed back across goal for Jennings two yards out, but with the goal at his mercy he headed wide. Moors came back and Griffiths released Ruddy and his cross picked out Johnston but his free header went wide.

In the 75th minute Moors went 2-0 up through captain Ryan who met Ruddy’s cross unchallenged at the back post to steer the ball past Atkinson.

Moors continued to attack and RCA continued to try and hit on the break and it was one of these breaks that should have been rewarded with a goal as Walton raced onto a pass from McGuinness, outpaced the Moors defenders before lobbing the ball over Dean, but his shot hit the inside of both posts before coming out to Davison who saw his curling effort deflected past the far post for a corner.

Late on RCA pushed men forward in a effort to get back in the game and it took a good save from Dean to deny Jardine. Then from the corner Davison headed wide.

Richardson then had an effort turned around the post by Atkinson as the match came to an end.

A win against Spennymoor still eludes RCA this season. Today Spennymoor looked like this was their cup final. Defeat today would probably have seen the end of their championship bid however it is now back on track. For RCA they are still in with a shout and whatever happens this has been a great season. How they respond on Wednesday against West Auckland will determine the character of the squad and I am sure that the response will be a positive one.