Monday, 2 January 2012

STL Northern League Division 1

RCA started the New Year with a brilliant 3 - 2 win against a Shildon team who boasted three ex-RCA players.

The management team welcomed back Steven Jones at right back and introduced recent signing Tom Berj into a three man midfield. With the emphasis on attack they started with a 4-3-3 formation which looked to catch Shildon off guard. RCA went 2-0 up in the first half only to be pegged back early in the second half before showing their character, making it 3-2 before having to hold on late in the game as Shildon poured forward looking for the equaliser.

A chat with the groundsman before today’s match revealed that if the match had been scheduled for 24 hours earlier it would have been off as the pitch was under water, a great testament to the ground staff at Shildon who managed to get this match on. Although the pitch was very heavy in places the two teams served up an entertaining and in the end a very exciting match. The early stages of the first half were fast and furious with neither team able to settle on the ball and play the sort of football that they are capable of.

Shildon carved out the first opportunity when Price receiving the ball from Richmond, evaded the tackle of McGuinness, before unleashing a shot which Atkinson did well to turned round the post. The response from RCA was immediate. Jones found Owens with a 50 yard cross field pass, Owens played a one-two with Davison, before curling a shot well wide of the upright. A minute later and Cuthbertson played in Walton, but his first time effort was blocked by Watson. RCA were in control of the game at this point and it was only a matter of time before they made their supremacy pay dividends. When the goal came it was so simple: a throw in near the corner flag was given to Owens, he skipped past two tackles on the by line before slipping the ball to Davison who tapped in from two yards out.

RCA should have increased their lead five minutes later when a corner was headed down by Davison and Keegan’s clearance landed at the feet of Oates who fired over the bar from 10 yards out and the Shildon defence nowhere to be seen.

Shildon were restricted to long balls out of defence in the hope of catching the RCA defence out. In the slippery conditions this was not difficult and a slip by Paxton almost let in Johnson, but Oates and Close tidied up and set RCA up for another attack.

RCA were awarded a freekick about 25 yards out. Owens, Walton and Close stood over the ball while the referee took a long time explaining to Watson the reason for the freekick. Owens clipped the freekick in to the near post and debutant Berj met the ball perfectly to head home, 2 - 0 up and in cruise control. In the dying minutes of the half RCA had the ball in the net again but the referee adjudged that Paxton had impeded the keeper before heading home.

The second half saw a resurgence from Shildon as they powered forward in the opening five minutes and RCA had to defend in numbers to keep them at bay. A good move between Price and Johnson ended when Johnson’s shot was blocked and the ball fell into Atkinson’s arms. RCA were guilty of switching off in the 60th minute when Shildon were awarded a corner. Price ran 30 yards to receive the ball some 25 yards out before unleashing a screamer of a shot which flew into the top corner of the net. Shildon were now rampant and RCA looked to be wilting under the pressure. It was only a matter of time before the pressure told, a low cross into the box by Price looked to have been defended by Paxton but the ball fell to McCabe who beat the first defender before shooting low and Oates, sliding back to block was adjudged to have handled the ball. Up stepped Price to send Atkinson the wrong way and the game was back to all square.

RCA showed the resilience at this point as they took the game to Shildon and two minutes after the penalty shock Berj was unlucky to see his shot rebound off the post to safety. However, RCA regained the lead in the 68th minute when another long ball out of defence found Owens totally unmarked on the left wing. He carried the ball for 20 yards before curling a delectable shot out of the reach of Finch and into the far corner of the net. Shildon looked shocked by this and RCA should have capitalised on their hesitancy when Cuthbertson picked up the ball and floated a beautiful ball into the path of Davison, but Keegan was able to get a block on the ball.

From the 80th minute onward Shildon threw everything at RCA with Keegan moving into a forward role and placing extra pressure on the RCA defence. However RCA once again showed great teamwork and were able to hang on to the end. Shildon did have a shout for a penalty which was waved away by the referee, but really for all their huff and puff they never really created a clear cut chance and Atkinson in the RCA goal was always available to punch or catch the ball to avert any danger that threatened.

RCA, due to other matches being cancelled, have now moved three points clear at the top of the league.

Tuesday, 10 January 2012

Durham Challenge Cup 2nd Round

Over 200 attended this match and witnessed a hard fought contest in which RCA matched the reigning League champions Spennymoor for over an hour before succumbing in the 72 minute to a beautiful own goal by Mark Davison and 2 minutes later Ex RCA player Keith "Rasher" Graydon rubbed salt in the wounds with a brilliantly executed freekick which, stand in keeper Craig Shields, couldn't reach as it floated into the net off the far post.

RCA did have chances in the first half and should have got one back late in the game when Owens shot was cleared off the line. Overall Spennymoor looked the more composed team and deserved to be in the next round of the draw.

RCA were forced to make three changes to the side that beat Shildon eight days ago with Craig Shields and Carl Beasley coming in for Cup tied Neal Atkinson and Richard Paxton. Gary Shields replaced the injured Joseph Walton. Moors made one change to the team that defeated Stokesley Sports Club at the weekend with Robert Dean replacing first choice keeper Craig Turns.

Both sides went at each other in the opening 10 minutes with most of the play in the midfield and very little in the final third. RCA forced the first save of the game when Owens burst into the box and fired low, Dean managed to turn the ball round the post for a corner. The keeper was then forced to concede another corner when the in-swinging kick looked likely to dip under the bar. Spennymoor were quick to capitalize on a poor back pass when Shields' clearance fell to Cogdon. but the lively strikers shot was blocked by Beasley. Dean kept Spennymoor in the game with a number of saves, one after an Owens, 1-2 with Davison left the RCA Winger in on goal but Dean was equal to the shot.
Lewis Dodds fired wide for Spennymoor when RCA were unable to clear a corner.

Sonny Andrews had a golden opportunity to break the deadlock in the 25th minute when his powerful header flashed wide of the post with keeper Shields beaten. The rest of the half saw the defences of both teams pretty well on top and the only other real opportunity fell to Capper who fired over the bar.

The second half saw Spennymoor up the tempo as they went looking for the win and RCA, whilst defending well, were not creating anything in attack.

Shields was forced into action to smother a dangerous cross from Andrews.

There was little between the two teams and both managers looked to the bench for inspiration. Jason Ainsley found it with the introduction of former RCA player Graydon; from the moment he came on he seemed to find space in midfield. However it was a misunderstanding that lead to the first goal. A poor back pass by James Oates to Shields saw the ball roll past the advancing keeper to Andrews and Oates only just got back to clear the ball for a corner. Unfortunately the resulting corner taken by Ruddy was met by Davison and the ball flashed into his own goal past the despairing dive of Shields.

Within two minutes RCA were 2 – 0 down when Spennymoor were awarded a freekick and RCA's thorn in the side Graydon curled a delightful set piece beyond Shields and into the top corner.

RCA had chances to get back at Spennymoor, the best came late in the game when Owens broke away to round Dean, but his shot was cleared off the line by Stephen Foster. In the final minutes of the game Shields brought off a truly great save from Johnston.

In the end, it has to be said that this was a very professional performance by both teams and it shows just how far RCA have come to be able to compete at a consistently high level. On tonight’s performances both teams will be there or thereabouts at the end of the season.

Saturday, 21 January 2012 STL Northern League Division 1 Penalty? Tom Berj goes down inside the Penrith area, but this and other appeals went unanswered. Click here for a slideshow of photos from the match. Sky Tyne and Wear video and comment The dismal home form continues with yet another draw against a below average Penrith team who battled hard but only really created the one chance with which they scored. For all our possession we were unable to produce the quality in the final third of the pitch. Ifs and buts will not win games, if the penalty appeal had been successful would we have scored the equaliser? Never mind we are as high in the league as any other RCA team in history and teams are coming to Meadow Park to defend, we need to find a way of breaking teams down, the same way that Spennymoor do.

RCA started with the same team that had played so well against Spennymoor Town. They started the game promisingly and should have taken the lead after two minutes when Owens whipped in a corner which was only cleared as far as Oates eight yards out, but he snapped at the shot and it flew over the bar. A minute later and Owens slipped past the full back before crossing onto the head of Davison, but the striker could only steer the ball wide of the post. The windy conditions were making it difficult for both teams to control the ball and the game degenerated into a mid field battle which nobody seemed to be winning. Penrith with the advantage of the slope and the wind were unlucky not to score when Coleman cut in from the right. His shot was blocked by Jones and the ball spun to Wood who thundered in a shot which went narrowly wide. In the 21st minute a lovely move between Walton and Berj saw the latter through on goal, but his effort went well wide of the target. The Penrith team seemed to take heart from this and Gill in particular started to look dangerous everytime he got the ball. His direct approach gave the RCA defence a lot of problems and it was no suprise when, in the 28th minute he skipped past two defenders before squaring the ball to Jackson who slid the ball past the despairing dive of Atkinson. With their tails up Penrith almost went 2-0 up when Coleman picked up the ball on the right wing and held off two defenders before firing in a cross shot which went narrowly wide. The game was starting to liven up, Owens was giving Clasper a hard time on the left wing and when he went past him and pulled the ball back to the edge of the penalty area Davison was on hand to curl in a lovely shot which went just over the bar. At the other end a free kick by Ainsworth was fired over the bar. Late in the first half RCA had a penalty appeal turned down when Walton's attemped cross was charged down by Davidson. A dramatic start to the second half saw another penalty appeal turned down when a near post corner was clearly handled by Wood before he conceded another corner. Ironically RCA scored as a result of this corner, but in rather unusual fashion. Penrith scrambled the corner away and the ball was lofted upfield where the only player was Atkinson the RCA keeper, who blasted the ball back into the Penrith half, the ball fell kindly for Beasley who slid the ball past the advancing Holland. The game had turned and Penrith were encamped in their own half for long periods with only the occassional counter attack. As the second half progressed so RCA players started to get frustrated, playing long balls into the wrong areas of the pitch or straight at the Penrith defenders. Chances were mainly restricted to long range efforts which were easily dealt with by the Penrith defenders. Cuthbertson must have thought he had scored when he reacted first to a poor clearance to volley a shot low towards the bottom corner of the net but Wood was able to get a foot to it and clear. RCA forced a number of corners, but to be fair to Penrith they defended most of them with ease, acouple of goalmouth scrambles ensued but the luck was with them and the ball fell kindly for Holland. The final chance of the half fell to Davison, but he put his header high over the bar. Penrith played well in the first half and probably on the balance of play deserved to be in the lead at half time. They also defended well in the second half. However RCA had so much possession and created so many chances throughout the match that they should really have put this one to bed early in the second half.

Saturday, 28 January 2012

STL Northern League Division 1

Andy Jennings bursts through on goal during the first half of the match.

Click here for a slideshow of photos from the match

Sky Tyne and Wear video and comment

The management team were forced to make wholesale changes for today's match with Mark Davison sustaining a recurrence of an ankle injury in training on Wednesday, Andrew Cuthbertson unavailable, family commitments and Lee Owens working away. In came Jennings, Robson and Wells to replace these and Richard Paxton returned to the centre of defence to replace James Oates.

After 20 minutes of the game no one could have predicted the score as RCA were in total control of the game. Then the wheels came off and they let Consett get back into the game and in the end both teams had great chances to grab a win.

Both teams settled into this game quickly and it was Consett, with the advantage of the slope, who had the first shot on target. A free kick was awarded for a foul on Mackay and former RCA favourite Harrison Davies stepped up to curl a low shot straight into the arms of Atkinson.

RCA then forced Consett to defend with a series of attacks, Walton gaining a corner on the right which Wells took and his far post cross was headed over by Beasley who was free at the back post.

Then Jones took advantage of the hesitancy in the Consett defence as he picked the ball up on the halfway line and proceeded unchallenged into the opposition’s penalty area before shooting over the bar.

It was all RCA and when Jennings chested a cross from Walton into the path of Wells it looked like RCA would take the lead, but Jameson came to the rescue making a fine save.

However, the home supporters did not have long to wait for the opening goal. A cross field ball found Jennings on the left and he glided past the last defender before squaring the ball to Walton who had a simple tap in from 10 yards out.

Consett responded with a number of attacks which came to nothing; the closest was a good move involving Lund and Mackay saw them set up Molloy but his effort was well off target.

During this move Walton, who was back helping his defence out, picked up a bad injury which meant he could take no further part in the match and he was replaced by Gary Shields.

RCA continued to cause problems for the Consett defence and it was no surprise that they went 2-0 up. Berj won the ball in midfield and Close picked up the loose ball before passing to Jennings. The RCA striker cut inside the defender and into the box before he was unceremoniously up ended. Robson stepped up to take the penalty and although Jameson got a hand to it he could not prevent it from going in.

Within a minute Consett could have been back in the game when Mackay shot wide.

Slightly against the run of play Consett got a lifeline when Burrell ran 20 yards unchallenged and as the defence opened up he fired in a low shot the gave Atkinson no chance. 2-1 and game back on.

The game flowed from end to end. A through ball from close found Jennings and his first time shot was well saved by Jameson, at the other end some good work by Slocombe provided Davies with great opportunities to cross the ball into dangerous areas but the winger failed to deliver.

Utilising the slope, Consett were applying more pressure to the RCA backline. In a rare counter attack by RCA Jones found Jennings who crossed to Wells, but the RCA winger lacked power in his shot and it was easily saved by Jameson.

In the 40th minute Mackay could be forgiven for believing he had equalised when he unleashed a ferocious shot which was heading for the bottom corner, but Atkinson in the RCA goal somehow managed to get a hand to it and push the ball for a corner.

Consett did equalise two minutes later with a great goal from Lund. Receiving the ball in the centre circle Lund skipped through several challenges before finding himself inside the box and he coolly slipped the ball past Atkinson.

Déjà vu, 2-2 at half time at Consett earlier in the season.

RCA started the second period eager to get back to the form of the first 25 minutes and only the brilliance of Jameson prevented them from going 3-2 up as Berj was set up by Robson and his shot was tipped onto the post before being cleared by Scorer.

Consett’s first attack of the second half saw Davies cross the ball into the box but Lund mishit the shot and it went tamely wide.

RCA responded again and once again it was Jameson who saved from a fierce shot from Close.

Consett were starting to make inroads into the heart of the RCA defence and it was only some sterling work by Paxton and Beasley that kept Mackay and co at bay. RCA were forced to defend deep and didn’t seem to have any outlet.

Against the run of play RCA had the best chances of the second half as first Shields raced onto a long ball out of defence and beat the last man, but his shot was parried by Jameson, the rebound fell to Berj who blasted the ball goal wards, but Jameson managed to get a hand to it and the ball went for a corner.

Five minutes later and Shields was sent clear again; this time he elected to lob the keeper, but his effort was easily saved by Jameson.

Consett, in search of a late winner, had efforts by Mackay and Davies which were easily saved by Atkinson and the only real chance fell late in the game to Davies who cut in from the left wing to fire in a shot which went narrowly wide.

A draw was probably a good result for us on the balance of play. However on good chances created we could arguably have won this game. Injuries are becoming a problem with such a small squad.