Tuesday, 1 October 2013
EBAC Northern League Division 1
Goalscorers: Ashington: Johnson (2), Taylor, Walton. SRCA: None
Once again RCA have been hit by injuries, Horsman was admitted to hospital on Sunday and Callaghan has a groin injury. Henderson and Home-Jackson took their place in the starting line up. Further problems were to follow in the warm up with Shields pulling up with an ankle injury and being replaced by Fryatt.
Not ideal preparation for a match against an Ashington team who had won their last four matches.
RCA started well, keeping the ball and denying the Colliers space. In the opening minute a cross into the area from Clough was headed away by Scott and Jury picked up the ball on the edge of the box before shooting narrowly wide. Then a mazy run by Thompson saw him go past three players before his cross was turned away for a corner.
In the seventh minute and against the run of play the Colliers took the lead. Norris outpaced Clough on the right before cutting the ball back into the path of Carson. His shot was blocked and in the scramble that followed Taylor reacted and rifled home from close range.
Two minutes later, Johnson made a great run down the left but could only shoot into the side netting.
RCA continued to have the majority of possession without finding the cutting edge in front of goal.
A corner from Edwards was headed goalward by Morris but McGlen got in a block to clear the ball. then a minute later Home-Jackson swung in a cross which which was met by Barton who fired inches wide under pressure from Scott, claims that he was held back were dismissed by the referee.
Morris then turned supplier when he fed the ball to Barton whose volley from the edge of the area flashed wide of the target.
The Colliers responded and on the half hour Carmichael was forced into action to make a save from Johnson. However he had no chance a minute later when Johnson picked up a ball from Walton before bursting forward unchallenged before chipping the ball over the advancing keeper into the net.
In the 40th minute another run down the right by Norris beat the RCA defensive line, he knocked the ball into the path of Johnson who curled a shot wide of the upright.
As the half came to a close Edwards almost reduced the arreas when he collected the ball 30 yards out and fired in a shot which was deflected wide with Dryden struggling.
The second half started with both teams guilty of missing early chances. Taylor broke past two defenders before firing wide then a lovely weighted pass from Brown was met by Home-Jackson, but he sliced his shot into the arms of Dryden.
Norris then had a shot blocked on the line by Brown. Brown was next in action at the other end of the pitch as he overlapped the run of Jury before cutting the ball back into the path of Thompson but he was guilty of mis-hitting his shot and the danger was cleared.
Those two RCA misses were to come back and haunt them as the Colliiers went straight on the attack Carson slipped the ball to Taylor then laid the ball off to Johnson who fired past Carmichael to make it 3-0.
RCA were visibly shocked by this goal and it got worse five minutes later when Jury was adjudged to have fouled Taylor, although the stud marks down the back of Jury's leg would indicate that he was the one who was fouled. Decision made Walton stepped up and slotted the ball into the corner of the net.
The final 20 minutes of the game were only notable for two cautions to RCA, a curling freekick from Home-Jackson which was saved by Dryden and a double save by Carmichael from Taylor and Briggs.
RCA will play worse than this during the season and get results. We proved tonight that we can pass the ball and create chances.
Unfortunately the clinical finishing of Ashington's strikers and the pace of their wingers was too much for us on this occasion.