30 March 2013
EBAC Northern League Division 1
Goalscorers: Darlington: Thompson (3), Dowson, Johnson, Purewal, Hedley. SRCA: Clarke, Shaw.
Without a home game since November, Darlington called upon the services of ex-RCA goalkeeping legend Gary Ventress to get the pitch in a playable condition. Gary is now working in Bishop at the College and his groundsmanship/green keeping is second to none. He along with about 20 volunteers worked tirelessly throughout the morning to clear the pitch. Although by 4.55pm most of the RCA supporters would have wished they hadn't.
It was the same old story for RCA players unavailable or not even bothering to turn up. The ones who have turned up to play are to be commended for playing four games in seven days. Unfortunately, today was probably just one game to many and for the final 20 minutes they were running on empty.
As for Darlington they showed a true professionalism throughout the afternoon and broke the 100 points for the season barrier with this win.
Darlington started the match in emphatic style as they pinned RCA back with three quick attacks in succession, Dowson missing a great chance in front of goal after being set up by Purewal.
It wasn't long before Darlington took the lead. In the seventh minutes Richards was dispossessed in the centre circle by Gott who sent Dowson clear, Wardle came across to cover and sent Dowson tumbling inside the area, Thompson struck his penalty well sending Foden the wrong way.
A corner to the far post fell to Dowson who backheeled it to Thompson who fired his into the side netting.
RCA took until the 25th minute to get any sort of move together when Owens burst down the right wing and crossed into the box, Clarke was on hand to head inches wide of the upright.
An injury to Monson meant RCA were playing with ten men when Darlington took advantage of the extra man to make it 2-0. Emms supplied a great pass to Harrison on the wing, he found Purewal down the right and his low cross was swept past the full length dive of Foden.
Within two minutes RCA were back in the game a neatly chipped ball forward by Gordon evaded the Darlington defence and found Clarke, as he moved inside the area he was upended Brown. Clarke picked himself up to rocket the penalty past Bell.
RCA were unable to put a great deal of pressure on the Darlington defence even when Purewal left the field for treatment to a head injury which left them a man short. In fact it was Darlington who scored during this period when Thompson picked up the ball on the left, stepped inside two defenders before curling a wonderful shot past Foden into the far corner of the net. 3-1 at half time.
Darlington started where they left off after the break, substitute Johnson was unlucky not to score with a lovely header in the 47 minute but Forden made an excellent save.
RCA then started to get a little reward for their efforts. Shaw linked up with Owens before sending Gordon down the right, his cross was destined for the head of Home-Jackson but Brown managed to head clear. Back came RCA in the 57th minute, after a good save from Foden he cleared the ball up field and Home-Jackson headed the ball on to Shaw who went clear of a static Darlington defence before calmly slotting the ball past the advancing Bell.
This galvanised Darlington and Thompson in particular who is almost unplayable in this mood, in the 64th minute he skipped past Gordon and fired in a shot which was turned behind for a corner. The ball was crossed to the far post from the corner and the clearing header fell to Thompson who fired over the bar, the Assistant Referee awarded another corner. From this corner the ball was not cleared and again fell nicely at the feet of Johnson and the Darlington forward made no mistake this time from six yards out volleying into the roof of the net.
Thompson completed his hat trick in the 78th minute when another corner was taken short to Gott, he returned the ball Emms who crossed into the box, Thompson picked up the ball and turned onto his left foot before unleashing a shot which took a deflection off a RCA Defender on its way into the goal.
RCA were out on the feet now and it looked like Darlington could score every time they attacked.
As the game entered the last few minutes youngster Hedley released Purewal with a superb reverse pass and he finished with some aplomb in front of the the Darlington supporters.
Hedley himself got on the score sheet in the last minute of the game when he chipped in a cross which managed to squeeze past the hand of Foden hit the inside of the post and went in.
Darlington gave a great display in front of their supporters today, at times they looked to be three or four levels above RCA. Their movement and passing, not to mention their finishing was top drawer.
RCA were still in this match for about 70 minutes, they stuck at it and showed a lot of character. However, the amount of games being played by a small number of players was eventually going to tell and so it did.
The away match at Consett on Monday is off so a rest can be had by all.
Darlington again on Wednesday at home.