Saturday, 26 October 2013
EBAC Northern League Division 1
Goalscorers: Bishops: Douglas SRCA: Barton, Baynes.
RCA visit Heritage Park twice in a week, on Saturday, to play Bishop's in the EBAC Northern League and next Wednesday, to play Darlington 1883 in the Durham Challenge Cup.
The injury bug appears to have returned with goalkeeper Jonathan Carmichael ruled out with a groin injury. Also missing was Daniel Wray who is abroad for the weekend. Taking their places for the match were Andrew Spence in goal and Liam Clough in central defence. The return of Gavin Barton to partner Callum Patton up front meant that Kyle Morris missed out.
A frenetic opening saw Bishops immediately on the front foot. A lovely through ball by Megran was partially cleared by Clough but the ball fell to Moncur who fired in a shot which Spence parried, Brunskill pounced on the loose ball but Spence flung himself in front of the shot to make a brilliant save on his debut.
Almost immediately RCA went on the attack. Wilson found Fryatt on the right wing, he slipped the ball past the full back before pulling the ball into the path of Patton whose initial shot was blocked by Lawson, he then followed up but was unable to beat Pocklington.
Pocklington cleared the ball to Douglas who hit a first time cross into the path of Moncur who fired in a low shot which Spence saved diving to his left. The loose ball was picked up by Hodgson but his cross was easily plucked out of the air by Spence.
In the tenth minute a long crossfield ball by Hawkins picked out Douglas who squared the ball to Tarling who drove in a terrific low shot which Spence saved at the second attempt.
RCA, having withstood Bishops pressure, asserted some of their own. Patton and Baynes combined on the left to win a corner, Baynes took the kick which was headed away by Hawkins but as Horsman challenged for the high ball he was fouled and the referee immediately pointed to the spot. Up strode Barton to slam home the spot kick.
Four minutes later and RCA were 2-0 up when Wilson sent a long ball in to Patton who controlled it superbly before playing it into the path of Baynes who struck the ball perfectly from 22 yards out into the top corner of the net: a truely magical goal.
RCA were looking to kill the game off but at this early stage it was always going to be difficult.
So it proved as Bishops opened their account with another astonishing goal. A pass from Megran was picked up by Douglas who from 16 yards out volleyed an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net.
With their tails up Bishops once again looked to put pressure on the RCA defence. A corner from Hodgson was headed away by Preston and when the ball was fired back in by Tarling it was Preston again who headed the ball away for another corner, this time the corner was collected by Spencer at the second attempt.
The RCA keeper sent the ball forward where Barton headed it down into the path of Patton who lobbed the ball over the keeper but wide of the post.
Bishop responded with a driven shot by the lively Douglas but it went well wide. A minute later and freekick on the right was flicked on to Moncur who shot wide of the upright.
RCA were looking to hit Bishops on the counter attack and in the final two minute of the half could easily have been 4 -1 up. First, Patton latched onto a long clearance by Preston and produced a stinging shot which Pocklington saved superbly. Then a great run by Fryatt took him past the last defender before he curled the ball into the box where Patton could not connect properly and the ball was deflected away for a corner.
Bishops started the second half in attacking mood and kept it up for the full 45 minutes.
In the 50th minute a cross from Hodgson found Brunskill in the centre of goal, his initial shot was blocked by Preston and the follow up by Douglas was headed away for a corner by Preston.
RCA continued to defend defiantly and looked to get something on the counter. In the 70th minute Fryatt and Jury combined to produce a cross to Morris who shot was blocked by McLane and cleared by Lawson.
Bishops continued to bombard RCA's goal but the visitors continued to defend well with Preston outstanding. Shots rained in from Douglas, Megran and Tarling but all to no avail as RCA held on to take all three points.
A well earned three points at Heritage Park which will move us further up the table.
A great defensive display which allowed the midfield a bit more freedom to express themselves. It also helps when attackers are able to take the pressure off by keeping hold of the ball.