Crook Town FC 3 Sunderland RCA FC 1

Phil Horsman clears ahead of Crook player-manager Gary Pearson, but the whistle has been blown for a Crook free kick.

Saturday, 26 April 2014

EBAC Northern League Div. I

Goalscorers: SRCA: Wray,    Crook: Davis (2), Wallace.

Please click here for photos from the match.

The end of season blues have well and truly set in at RCA, since confirming First Division survival we have lost our three matches, conceeded 12 goals and scored only two.

Today, against an under strength Crook team, we capitulated in a crazy 20 minute second half period which saw us concede three goals. Maybe the enforced lay off with no game for 13 days was a factor as we looked heavy legged in the second half.

Crook used the pace of their front men to great effect and for most of the game, on a bobbly pitch, they missed out the midfield playing long balls into open spaces on both wings which stretched our defence.

RCA's Team : Carmichael, Jury, Horsman, Henderson, Wray, McAvoy, Wilson J, Stanger, Barton, Hughes, Patton: Subs. Wilson N, Shields G, Fryatt, Morris, Brown Andrew.

The game started in a flurry of activity with Bird getting loads of space on the right crossing into the area where Wilson cleared under prssure from Davis.

Two minutes later and a corner by Patton was punched clear by Poskett; it fell to Stanger on the edge of the box but the midfielder volleyed well over the bar.

RCAQ almost took the lead in the 10th minute when Hughes slipped the ball to Patton who forced a reaction save from Poskett, the ball spun away to Barton who tried to pick his spot, but Poskett was able to save with his feet before scrambling the ball away.

Off to the other end of the pitch where a long ball out of defence found Bird in acres of space and the speedy forward took the ball forward before unleashing a shot which went wide of the target.

Two minutes later and Bird was once again found in acres of space on the right. He took the ball to the byline before cutting it back to Davis whose first time shot was parried by Carmichael and cleared up field by Wray.

The game then became a bit scrappy with both defences able to cope with anything that was thrown at them. It was a typical end of season match between two teams who had little to play for.

Although the game continued to be end to end there were few chances of note until the 27th minute when Pearson produced a lovely through ball for Davis, but the striker shot well wide from a good position.

Almost immediately RCA struck back with an attack of their own. Jury picked up the ball on an overlap run before sending in a testing cross towards Barton, but Poskett was alert to the danger and plucked the ball of fthe RCA striker's head.

RCA were starting to to get a bit of possession and when Wilson slid the ball into Hughes it took a good save from Poskett to deny the striker.

As the game flowed back to the other end of the pitch Bond latched onto a ball from Wallace and sent in a great cross which Davis headed straight at Carmichael.

Carmichael sent a long ball forward towards Barton on the left wing. The striker did well to beat two players before slipping the ball into the path of Patton who took the ball in his stride before firing low, but Evans was able to get across to block the shot.

The game was starting to bubble now and another long ball found Bird in space and past the last defender, with Carmichael charging off his line the Crook striker lobbed the ball goalwards, but Wray somehow managed to get back and clear off the line.

The writing was on the wall for RCA as early as the second minute of the second half when a cross field ball from Wallace found Davis in front of an open goal, but he mishit his shot wide.

Two minutes later Crook took the lead a little fortuitously when a long ball forward looked to be an easy clearance for Carmichael, but the keeper's clearance struck an RCA defender on the back and fell into the path of Davis who made no mistake this time stroking the ball into the back of the empty net.

During the next five minutes RCA where bombarded by a rampant Crook team with shot after shot sailing wide of the target.

On the hour mark they doubled their advantage when a shot from Bird was parried by Carmichael but went straight to Wallace who slammed the ball home from close range.

Ten minutes later and the game was over when RCA conceded a corner on the right. Bird took the kick and it was flicked on by Wallace to Davis who fired home through a crowd of players to make it 3-0.

RCA got a consolation goal in the 76th minute when a free kick from Patton was headed home at the far post by Wray.

They were almost given a lifeline a minute later when substitute Brown played the ball to Wilson who dribbled into the box, but his effort was well saved by Poskett.

There was still time for Man of the Match Bird to strike the bar.

Next up is a trip to League Champions Spennymoor Town who clinched promotion to the Evostick with a 1-0 win against Guisborough Town.