20 March 2013
Ebac Northern League Division 1
Scorers: Synners: Callender, Hassan
RCA returned to the Glamal Stadium for this rearranged Ebac Northern League match after the original match was abandoned at half time due to heavy fog.
Late changes to the team selection were forced on the management team with the work commitments of Richards, Preston and Shaw. In came Pattison, Charlton and Cutts.
RCA started well with Guerin-Lokonga making a surging run down the right, his cross was met by Pattison who scooped his shot over the bar.
Synners then started to play the ball about to good effect in midfield and in the 13th minute a Callender through ball to Cattermole, split the RCA defence, and Porritt who had found space could only watch as his shot went wide.
A minute later and Ball was called into action for the first time saving low down from Cattermole
Charlton had a shot charged down by Robinson and the ball was cleared only as far as Clarke who fired goalwards but Griffiths made the save look easy.
This mini revival by RCA was stopped in its tracks as Synners once again produced some flowing football. Edwards sent an inch perfect pass to Bettson who in turn found Porritt and it took a great save from Ball to turn the ball past the post for a corner.
RCA responded almost immediately from the corner the ball was played up to Clarke who laid the ball to Charlton who ran through on goal but his finish went wide of the target.
Porritt, who was linking up well with Edwards in the middle of the park, played in Bettson who volleyed the ball over the bar.
Synners took the lead in the 33rd minute when Porritt found space in the box to turn and shoot, the ball rebounded off the post and Callender was the quickest to react firing the ball home from six yards out.
They almost doubled their lead in the 40th minute, a corner was headed goalwards by Callender, it looked to take a deflection and was cleared off the line by Close the clearance bounced about in the area before Ball took control smothering the ball and averting the danger.
The second half started with RCA pressing for an equaliser, in the 50th minute RCA were awarded a freekick and Cutts fired in a low grass cutter which Griffiths did well to save.
Griffiths kick out was picked up on the halfway line by McGuinness who ran 20 yards with the ball before unleashing a terrific shot which Griffiths plucked from under the bar.
In the 58th minute Synners had their first effort of the second half when Callender shot wide of the target and a minute later some sloppy defending allowed Cattermole in on the right and his floated shot cleared both the outstretched hand of Ball and the upright.
RCA were back on the attack in the 63rd minute, Guerin-Lokonga crossing from the right for Pattinson, who had acres of space at the far post, his shot goal-wards brought a great reaction save from Griffiths.
It was end to end play as Synthonia then attacked and a shot from Callender was blocked by Wardle, the ball rebounded to Wilson who fired over.
RCA piled players forward now and they almost got the reward in the 70th minute with a quick break sawo Guerin-Lokonga pick up the ball on the left blasted his shot wide into the side netting.
Synners almost made it 2-0 when Wilson clipped a cross onto the crossbar with Ball beaten.
You couldn't take your eyes off his game for a spilit second as the ball was cleared up field Guerin-Lokonga beat the offside trap and was clear of the Synners defence, but he once again fired the ball into the side netting.
As the game entered injury time RCA threw everyone forward leaving only one man back in a vain attempt to salvage a point but it was Synners who claimed a a second goal when Porritt played left to substitute Johnson and he squared to Hassan who cooly picked his spot and placed the ball beyond the reach of Ball in the RCA goal.
Another good performance by RCA but it has to be said that when Synners passed the ball tonight they were very, very good.
RCA need to take heart from the last few performances. Keep the faith and belief and we will be ok.