Team Northumbria FC 2 Sunderland RCA FC 4

Captain Gavin Barton leaps high to head the first of his two first half goals.

Saturday, 21 September 2013

FA Vase 2nd Qualifying Round

Goal Scorers: TN: Watling, Colvin:  SRCA: Barton (2), Thompson and Morris.

Please click here for photos from the match.

After the mid-week capitulation at the hands of Morpeth RCA were again in cup action this time the FA Vase and a welcome return to fitness of a few of our players: Liam Clough, Kyle Morris, Wayne Henderson and Stuart Thompson have been out with long term injuries while Kris Summers, Andrew Brown and Josh Home-Jackson were declared fit after receiving knocks in the mid week encounter.

So it was a much revamped team that took the field at Coach Lane. The line up: Jameson, Jury, Clough, Henderson, Summers,  Brown (Andrew),  Thompson, Edwards, Barton, Home-Jackson and Callaghan: Subs from: Hassan, Halliday, Morris, Brown (Aaron), McEvoy.

The game got off to an explosive start as Team Northumbria surged forward from the kick off and a weighted ball from Sayer found Chippendale who crossed into the area for Watling to volley past the outstretched arm of Jameson; the goal was tmed at 27 seconds.

This set the standard for the rest of the match as both teams decided that attack was the best form of defence. Edwards picked up a loose ball in midfield, brought Thompson into the move with a great ball, the RCA winger cut inside before crossing but Jennison plucked the ball off the head of Barton.

The game was really open and when Watling intercepted a back pass from Clough he looked certain to add to his tally, but Jameson pulled off a great one-handed save at the expense of a corner. The corner was swung toward the far post where Colvin was unmarked, however he could only direct his header over the bar.

RCA came back and a threaded ball by Brown found Home-Jackson on the edge of the box where he was unceremoniously up-ended. Callaghan took the freekick and sent it inches wide of the post with Jennison stranded.

Team North broke again down the right where Chippendale seemed to have acres of space, his pass in to Luke was missed by the RCA defence and the midfielder was allowed time to shoot fortunately for RCA his fired high over the bar.

After 15 minutes RCA started to look a bit more coordinated and less panicky and it was the turn of the home team to start getting flustered under pressure. Edwards gained a corner and took it, sending the ball into the box where it was headed away by McKeown.

Storey was forced to concede a corner under strong pressure from Home-Jackson, Callaghan took the corner which was scrambled away but only as far as Callaghan to cross back into the area where Barton controlled the ball but his shot was blocked by McKeown and picked up by Jennison.

Jennison's clearance fell to Brown who in controlling the ball seemed to stumble and had to stretch to recover the ball. This was his last contribution to the game as he limped off to be replace by Aaron Brown.     

What a substitution, RCA forced yet another corner when McKeown headed away a dangerous cross, Edwards took the corner and Barton got in front of Jennison to head home the equaliser.

Team North's response was almost immediate as once again from the kick off they retained possession as they tried to carve out an opening, The ball eventually fornd its way to Watling after what seemed like 20 passes and the Team North forward curled in a magnificent effort which went inches over the bar.

It was the home team's turn to pile on the pressure and when Luke slipped the ball to Riley it looked certain that he would score, he chipped the ball over the advancing Jameson and watched as the ball rolled agonisingly wide of the far post.

Minutes later and RCA were in front, Jameson threw the ball to substitute Brown, he carried the ball forward before senting in a deep cross which was met on the edge of the penalty area by Barton who managed to power a header past the flat footed Jennison.

RCA were now looking to kill the game off and a surging run by Home-Jackson ended when he looked to have been impeded inside the box but the referee awarded a goalkick.

In the 40th minute RCA were let off the hook when Callaghan lost the ball in his own half and Chippendale, in acres of space was unable to capitalise on the mistake and fired his shot past the near post.

As half time approached Team North almost equalised when Glen-Ravenhill picked up the ball on the right wing and sent in a wonderful cross which Watling could only volley over the bar under pressure from Henderson.

Team North started the second half in total command and would keep up a constant bombardment on the RCA defence for the majority of the half. It was to be a great testement as to the resolve and commitment of the players that they did not concede early in the half.

Glen-Ravenhill, who had hardly showed in the first half, picked up the ball on the edge of the box and fired wide then a minute later he was involved in a great move with Luke which produced a shot from Watling which went narrowly wide.

In the 50th minute a crossfield pass from Sayer picked out the advancing Colvin, but he could only hit his first time shot into the side netting.

Against the run of second half play RCA went further ahead a clever pass from Edwards found Home-Jackson in an advanced position; he slipped between two defenders before crossing to Thompson who controlled the ball before shooting into the net off the near post.

RCA looked to capitalise on this good fortune and two minutes later Home-Jackson once again made a good run past two defenders before firing in a low shot which Jennison saved.

Team North, once again took up the reins and started to take command of the game and it was that man Glen-Ravenhill who started the ball rolling producing another shot at goal after some good build up play between Sayer and Luke.

It was one way traffic now as Team North looked to get back into the game. Jameson was forced into a tremendous save from Richardson and seconds later he was called into action as Riley burst into the box and fired in a shot.

The way the game was going it seemed likely Team North must scor,e but their final shooting, RCA defending and super goalkeeping all combined to deny them the lifeline their endeavours deserved.

Hassan replaced Home Jackson and with his first touch forced a save from Jennison after Barton and Jury had combined to set the substitute up.

Another good move by Team North ended with RCA conceeding a corner and from the resulting kick Colvin headed down and Henderson cleared off the line.

In the 80th minute the life line that they were looking for arrived, when Watling surging into the box was brought down by Summers. Watling took the kick, but Jameson pulled off a fine save to deny the home team captain.

Team North continued to press forward without any real success until the 86th minute when a poor back pass by Summers was pounced upon by Colvin and he blasted the ball past Jameson.

As Team North pussed forward looking for the equaliser they were leaving themselves exposed at the back and as the game moved into injury time a long ball out of defence found Hassan in space and past the Team North defence. As he entered the penalty area he was brought down from behind by McKeown. Hassan took the penalty and fired high over the bar.

The game was sealed a minute later when Hassan once again found himself beyond the last defender. This time he looked up and played the ball to Morris who calmly side stepped Jennison before sliding the ball home from an acute angle.

This was a hard, but entertaining, game. It was fairly obvious that some of the returning players were not fully match fit and that they tired as the game went on. There were some good displays today. Edwards seemed to be back to something near his best and Jury never stopped running, Barton continues to score goals and Clough looked good until he tired half way through the second period. Defensively we still look vunerable, but we need to get a settled back four which seems to have eluded us for the last two seasons.

We can now look forward to the First Round draw on Monday.