Stu Thompson and ex-RCA captain Brian Close battle for the ball in the second half of the match.

Saturday, 10 August 2013

EBAC Northern League Division 1

Please click here for photos from the match.

Well, here we are again the start of a new season and it starts with a trip to West Auckland, not the easiest of places to visit.

RCA acquitted themselves well in a hard fought draw and it could have been a lot better after three very good first half efforts were squandered. Although West retained possession for long periods in the second half it was RCA who created the best chances in a very well contested first game of the season.

The management team have put together a good, hard working squad which will do well if we can retain their services and remain relatively injury free.

As early as the third minute RCA showed their intent to contest every ball when Barton pressurised Atkinson into a mishit clearance which fell to Winter, but Pattison was able to block the RCA forward's effort.

West's first chance came in the seventh minute when a Briggs corner was headed wide of the upright by Galpin who was left unchallenged inside the box.

A great challenge by Clough denied Richardson with the home crowd convinced, wrongly, that a penalty should have been awarded.

In the 13th minute a clearance by Wardle landed at the feet of Briggs who curled in a lovely shot which went narrowly wide.

RCA should have taken the lead in 17th minute when Barton was sent clear by Brown, but his shot, although beating Atkinson, hit the ouside of the post. Had he have looked up Winter had made a great run into the box and was in a great position to score. 

Two minutes later and RCA were almost given the lead when a defensive mix-up saw Thompson nip in and give the ball to Winter who was through on goal but he could only find the side netting.

West picked up the pace and looked to keep possession and RCA were looking comfortable defending and hitting them on the break.

RCA suffered a blow when Morris limped out of the game in the 29th minute to be replaced by Halliday.

Winter had another great chance to score when he slipped past two defenders ,but his mistimed shot was easily saved by Atkinson. 

The RCA defence was severely tested in the 37th minute when Carr had a great effort saved by Jameson. Henderson, following up, fired his shot straight at Jameson and the ball fell to Richardson who fired towards goal only to see his effort headed off the line by Brown.

RCA looked the stronger going into the break. A cross from McGuinness was superbly chested down by Lavender before the youngster unleashed a terrific strike which went narrowly wide of the far post.

Shortly after,  a long throw from McGuinness was headed inches over the bar by Barton. Thompson fired wide from a good position, then a header from a long throw dropping inches wide.

Within two minutes of the restart Barton, looking more and more like his old self, charged down a clearance from Atkinson, but the ball ran away from him and West were able to get men back quickly and Barton's shot was easily saved by Atkinson.

For all West's posession in the second half  they were only creating long range efforts on goal. A Carr half volley was easily picked up by Jameson and a Moffat shot flew well wide of the target.

In the 75th minute a Briggs corner was met by Richardson, but his well aimed header was cleared off the line by Barton

Barton then appeared at the other end firing a low shot into the side netting.

RCA changed formation to 4-5-1 for the final minutes and were pleased to see two efforts from Patton go harmlessly over the bar.

In the final minutes RCA almost claimed all three points when substitute Halliday crossed into the box to Barton and Atkinson had to make a smart save to deny the RCA stiker.

Everyone played their part today in a thouroughly workmanlike and professional display. From Jameson through to Morris and all the substitutes both used and unused, every one of them can walk tall today.

 

RCA clear their lines in the first half of the match. Photograph © Denise Haworth.

Tuesday, 13 August 2013

EBAC Northern League Division 1

Goalscorers: SRCA: Winter, Barton

The management team were forced to make changes for tonight's visit of Newcastle Benfield, Halliday retained the midfield slot replacing Brown (working), Gary Shields came in for the injured Morris (Ankle Ligament damage) and Kris Summers replaced Clough (working).

Newcastle Benfield for their part gave a late fitness test to Benjamin but he was deemed unfit to play, and new signing Paul Brayson started at centre forward.

RCA overcame a persistent Benfield team to record a 2-0 home win. The performance once again showed how good the team spirit is at the moment. When we were under pressure early in the first half nobody hid, everybody took responsibilty and as the game progressed we got better and better culminating in two well taken goals.

The opening minutes of the game saw both teams set up good attacks only for them to break down in the final third.

The first real chance of the game fell to Benfield when they won a corner which was taken by Bowey. Slaughter was first to the ball and it took an exceptional save from Jameson, tipping over the bar.

Almost immediately RCA were on the attack, a sweeping ball from Halliday found Shields on the right wing and he cheekily tried to beat the keeper with a curling cross but Grainger was alert to the danger and plucked the ball from underneath the bar.

The midfield battle was was very competitive as Bowey and Slaughter looked to get the upper hand on Halliday and Home-Jackson but the home pair were giving little away.

As the game ebbed and flowed it was Benfield who created the best chances. In the 23rd minute a clearance by Wardle was pounced on by Williams, but his curling effort was well saved by Jameson. From the resulting corner the ball was flicked into the danger area by Slaughter and into the path of Brayson, but the Benfield striker fired over the bar.

RCA supporters had to wait until the 35th minute before their team started to really click into gear. A cross into the box from McGuinness saw the ball headed goalward by Winter forcing Grainger into only his second save of the game.

Within minutes Halliday had a shot blocked before Barton sliced wide from the rebound.

A catostophic slip by a Benfield defender gave RCA the lead in the 43rd minute. Grainger rolled the ball into the path of Carl who slipped and passed the ball straight to Winter who calmly sidefooted the ball past Grainger and into the far corner of the net from 25 yards.

A minute later and the same striker had the ball in the net again this time from 35 yards out, but his team mate was deemed to be offside prior to Winter receiving the ball. A super strike all the same.

It could so easily have been 2-0 at half time. When Shields was sent clear of the Benfield defence, he chose to shoot rather than cross the ball and Grainger parried the ball inches away from the advancing Thompson.

Benfield opened the second half brightly with Babtist testing Jameson with a long range effort which the RCA keeper saved with some ease.

On the hour mark Jameson, who was having an outstanding game, pulled off the save of the match. Bowey won the ball in midfiled and found Luccock in space and with time to pick his spot from 18 yards out, he struck it perfectly and it looked a certain goal until the right hand of Jameson clawed it away from the bottom corner a truly brilliant save.

As the half progressed the game was getting bogged down in a midfield battle and both defences were coping with the problems posed by the attackers.

However in the 73rd minute that all changed when RCA were awarded a freekick 35 yards out. Home-Jackson took charge of the kick which was straight off the training ground; a ball to the far side of the six yard box saw Barton unmarked and the RCA striker headed powerfully past Grainger to make it 2-0.

RCA were starting to pick up the pace as the game went into the final 10 minutes and the introduction of extra speed up front in the form of substitute Gash was causing Benfield problems.

In a final flurry, Talbot forced another save from Man of the Match Jameson.

In the end RCA came out on top; it could have been so different had they not been so resolute in defence during the first 20 minutes.

This was a solid performance by a squad who do not want to be beaten and who have developed over the last few weeks an understanding of each others' play. Long may it continue.

Match photos courtesy of and © Denise Haworth:

The opening goal

RCA celebrate the second goal, a header from Gavin Barton

No through road: captain Adam McGuinness and Kris Summers combine to halt a Spennymoor Town attack.

Saturday, 17 August 2013

FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round

Goalscorers: SRCA, Barton   Spennymoor, Henderson (2)

Please click here for some photos from the match.

With so many of RCA's players unavailable for selection through injury and various other reasons it was a much changed team that took the field for this FA Cup extra preliminary round tie against Spennymoor Town at the Brewery Field.

On the injury front it was bad news for Jack Lilley who will be out for the rest of the season with a torn cruciate ligament. Better news on the injury to Kyle Morris who has strained ankle ligaments and is expected back with the next 10 days.

Spennymoor took advantage of the slope and the wind in the first half and were soon on the attack. A flowing move saw Capper play the ball to Stephenson who played in Taylor, but the Moors striker fired over the bar.

RCA were defending well against a Moors team who for all their possession were reduced to long range efforts on goal.

In the 15th minute RCA's latest signing Glen Reay limped out of the game, with a serious looking knee injury, to be replaced by Lee.

Speenymoor continued with their possesion football and RCA continued to defend in numbers and tried to break quickly on the counter.

A corner in the 25th minute gave Moors their next opening as Phillips played the ball into the box. Summers headed clear, but the loose ball fell to Griffiths who burst forward before unleashing a shot which flew high over the bar.

The pressure was relentless now and when Ruddy crossed to the far post it looked likely that Taylor would break the deadlock, but the Moors striker, under pressure from Summers, sliced the ball wide.

RCA's first real attack came on the half hour when Thompson fed the ball to Barton who slipped the ball to Halliday who in turn passed to Winter, but his shot was blocked by Moore.

Spennymoor took the lead in the 32nd minute when Stephenson won the ball in midfield before sending an inch perfect pass to Liam Henderson who finished clinically from 10 yards out.

Phillips was the next Moors player to get in an effort, but could only blast the ball well over the bar from 35 yards.

A minute later and RCA were level. Wayne Henderson, winning the ball from a Moor's throw in, headed the ball forward for Thompson who ran 20 yards unchallenged before passing to Barton who clipped the ball past Jeffries into the bottom corner of the Moor's goal.

Two minutes later and the referee booked both Wardle and Taylor after the two clashed on the edge of the box.

In the 40th minute, RCA were reduced to 10 men when Wardle received a second yellow for a trip on Dodds when the ball seemed to be going harmlessly away for a throw in.

RCA brought on Logan at half time for the injured Winter and looked to contain the attacking formation of Spennymoor.

Spennymoor went on the attack from the off with a good run by Ruddy which ended with his cross being half blocked by Wayne Henderson. The ball spun up into the box and was met by Stephenson who fired wide.

Some great defensive work by McGuinness and Summers kept the Moors attack at bay.

The introduction of RCA old boys Davidson, Graydon and Walton seemed to lift Spennymoor, and a minute after coming on Davidson turned and fired in a shot which Jameson saved at the foot of the post, managing to turn it round the post for a corner.

The corner was taken by Ruddy who played it to Graydon 30 yards out and he produced a stunning shot which rattled the post before going for a goal kick.

RCA rallied and a throw from Logan was picked up by Brown who fired in a shot from 40 yards out that went narrowly wide of the post with Jefferies beaten.

The game was really livening up as Spennymoor seemed to be getting more and more desperate against the solid 10 men of RCA.

Graydon and Capper combined to set up Davidson who powered in a trademark header, but Jameson was equal to it and made yet another save.

In the 72nd minute Spennymoor took the lead. A long ball into the box by Moore was easily dealt with by Summers and the ball fell between Halliday and Graydon, the Spennymoor player fired in a speculative shot which looked to be going wide when Liam Henderson stuck out a boot and the ball flew into the net of the arm of Jameson.

A terribly cruel blow for the 10 men of RCA, but they responded well with Thompson taking on Griffiths before seeing his pass intercepted by Moore with Barton in acres of space.

Jameson then pulled off a double save, he parried a shot from Phillips which rebounded to Liam Henderson and he got a foot to that shot, before the same player fired over the bar.

RCA's best chance of a equaliser came in the 85th minute when a long ball from McGuinness was flicked on by Barton into the path of Thompson who chested the ball forward, but was unable to get to the ball before Jeffries.

A final flurry by Spennymoor saw a cross by Capper find the head of Davidson who headed goalward, but McGuinness was on hand to head off the line.

The dismissal of Wardle was a major blow to RCA in this match, Spennymoor dominated possession and made a lot more chances than RCA but, and we always seem to be saying this then we play Spennymoor, it could have been so different if only...

With a terrific defensive display by the whole team, it was difficult to single out one player above any other as having a better game, but it has to be said that Adam McGuinness set a great example today and he motivated players around him by his sheer presence - a real Captain's performance.

 

Tuesday, 20 August 2013

EBAC Northern League Division 1

Goalscorers: Durham: Ward, Harrison, Fenwick SRCA: No scorers.

After the heroics of Saturday in the FA Cup against Spennymoor it was back to league action away to Durham City FC and down to earth with a bump. A below par performance saw RCA well beaten by a well organised Durham team who penetrated our defence at will, while maintaining a solid defence of their own. It could have been so different if RCA had taken advantage of a very bright start but they rarely test the Durham third choice keeper Rhys Jobling.

RCA started well and only some stirling defensive work by Madden stopped Shields excellent cross reaching Winter five yards out in front of an open goal.

Home-Jackson carved out the next opening, feeding the ball to Thompson who skipped past the challenge of Harrison before crossing to Barton but the RCA striker, under pressure from Oates, headed straight at Jobling.

After being under pressure for the opening 15 minutes Durham hit back when Morris raced down the right and crossed to Craig Hindmarch who was denied by a superb  one-handed save by Jameson.

RCA responded with a slick move, Shields crossing to the far post where Winter collected before laying the ball into the path of Barton who struck a powerful shot wide of the target.

In the 22nd minute Durham took the lead when Dixon burst forward before crossing into the box where  Scott looked to step over the ball and it fell to Ward who tapped in from six yards out.

RCA where forced back on the defensive and a long range effort from Dixon went narrowly past the far post.

Durham took control of the game in the midfield with Hotchkiss picking up any loose ball and moving the ball forward quickly.

On the half hour mark Ward picked up a through ball from Morris, dribble past two players before firing weakly into the arms of Jameson.

RCA were still trying to mount attacks and their approach work could not be faulted, it was just the final ball into the box which eluded them.

As the half wore on it was Durham who were creating the chances, in particular Morris who looked to attack at pace everytime he got the ball and in the final minute of the first half he had two great efforts, one spectacularly saved by Jameson and the other going narrowly wide.

The second half was barely three minutes old when Durham had the opportunity to double their advantage when they were awarded a penalty when Morris was adjudged to have been tripped. Hotchkiss took the penalty, but Jameson was equal to the shot and made a terrific save, turning the ball round the post for a corner. Oates was close to scoring from the corner with a well timed header which went over the bar.

RCA were awarded a free kick 25 yards out which McGuinness took, firing his first effort into the wall he picked up the rebound and sent in a lovely cross which found Barton who turned quickly but fired over the bar.

As the game ebbed and flowed it was obvious that the next goal would seal the match and so it was that Durham's Harrison produced a wonderful goal in the 69th minute. Picking the ball up on the half way line he ran, unchallenged to the edge of the 18 yard area before drilling a low shot into the bottom corner of the net.

RCA's match was well and truely over four minutes later when a Morris cross was met by Fenwick and his glancing header rocketed into the back of the net.

In the closing stages RCA tried to gain something from the game with efforts from Brown and Thompson both going wide without troubling Jobling.

RCA need to regroup after this defeat, but must take heart from the fact that they have performed really well in three out of their four games this season. On the night Durham were just that little bit better in front of goal and also had an impressive 20 or so minutes by Kyle Fryatt, who looks quite a handful.

Saturday, 24 August 2013

EBAC Northern League Division 1

Goalscorers: SRCA: Barton Spennymoor: Graydon.

Please click here for Sky Tyne and Wear video.

Today was one of those occasions where a draw felt like a victory. After the poor display on the artificial pitch on Tuesday, RCA were a completely transformed team, the passion was back and the desire to win was back.

Although for long periods of the match we came under immense pressure from Spennymoor Town we held firm and in the end got the result our endeavours deserved.

RCA started with the advantage of the slope in the first half and were quickly on the attack. Brown played a lovely ball into the path of Logan who cut inside before firing wide of the upright.

Spennymoor's first attack saw Phillips pick up a long throw from Jeffries before dribbling past two defenders and then unleashing a shot which Jameson did really well to parry away. Walton following up could only shoot into the side netting.

Both sides settled into the game with RCA looking to break quickly out of defence and Spennymoor playing the ball about in midfield without much in the final third of the pitch.

In the 15th minute Spennymoor were awarded a freekick on the edge of the box and Graydon, with a trademark kick, lifted the ball over the wall and goalward producing a magnificent save from Jameson low down at the near post.

RCA's next attack came when Jury won the ball on the half way line and released Edwards who hit a shot from 30 yards which was always rising and went comfortably over the bar.

The drama continued in the RCA box when Graydon found Walton in acres of space inside the penalty area, The ex-RCA player proceeded to blast the ball over the bar from six yards out with only the keeper to beat.

In the 40th minute a freekick from Graydon was headed back across the RCA goal by Walton to Davison who managed to head over the bar from inside the six yard area.

The RCA goal seemed to be leading a charmed life, but as the game entered the final minute of the first half it was RCA who were unlucky not to break the deadlock, Logan firing in a curling low shot which Jeffries managed to get a hand to and turn away for a corner.

Then in the final minute of the half a through ball from Edwards set Logan away one on one with the keeper; he took the ball past Jeffries who seemed to catch the RCA striker.  The penalty appeals were dismissed by the referee.

With the advantage of the slope in the second half Spennymoor started in determined fashion and it wasn't long before the pressure in the opening minutes told on a stretched RCA defence.

A mistimed tackle gave Spennymoor a freekick 20 yards out on the left edge of the box and up stepped Graydon and, not for the first time against RCA, curled and dipped his shot into the bottom corner of the net leaving Jameson at full stretch with no chance of making a save.

Spennymoor were on top now and should really have sealed the game in the next five minute period when Phillips sent in a cross which was headed away for corner by Wardle. The corner came in and Davison headed the ball down toward the bottom corner and Henderson, as last week, tried to deflect it into the net this time it was cleared off the line by Summers and Jury made the ball safe putting it into touch to allow RCA to regroup.

In the 68th minute RCA were level. When Walton lost the ball on the edge of the RCA penalty area, Edwards sent a long high ball forward into the Spennymoor box. The ball was allowed to bounce between White and Moore  and Barton slipped between the pair to slide the ball past the advancing Jeffries.

This goal spurred RCA on and they should have score five minutes later when Barton played in Goss at the far post, his cross was met by Thompson but he could not connect properly with the ball and it spun halmlessly away and was cleared by Moore.

Spennymoor brought on the artillery in the form of Gavin Cogden and he was straight in the action with a shot on the run which went narrowly over the bar, also brought into the game was Lee Kerr and he had only been on the pitch a matter of seconds when he burst into the box and looked certain to score but his shot was deflected wide for a corner.

RCA were clinging on as the game edged into injury time and there was still time for a Graydon freekick in an identical place where he scored from. This time the wall did its job and the danger was averted.

As Jason Ainsley said afer the match “We created enough chances to win four or five games at RCA on Saturday – at some point someone is going to get a hiding."

While I believe he is probably right I think that RCA played really well defensively as a team and got a deserved draw in the end. If we keep playing like this we will be ok, we showed today that we have moved on, the reaction from the players, on the back of the Durham match, was superb. 

RCA forward Conor Winter fights for the ball in the first half of the match.

Tuesday, 27 August 2013

EBAC Northern League Division 1

Please click here for some more match photos.

Once again this season RCA showed their resilience and character, down to 10 men in the 42nd minute when captain Adam McGuinness was harshly dismissed, they battled for everything in the second half, scored a goal and defended it superbly.

With central defenders Clough and Summers on holiday (in the football season not heard of in my day) McGuinness moved to cover and Lee was drafted in at left back. Fryatt was preferred to Shields as a replacement for the suspended Brown.

Hebburn showed their intention to attack from the off and could have been 1-0 up inside a minute. Daniel Smith bursting forward into space, with RCA defenders backing off, he slipped the ball to Roper whose initial shot was blocked by Wardle, his follow up shot deflected off one of his own players and went for a goal kick.

RCA replied with a good move of their own, Jury sent in a cross from the right which Barton headed down to Winter, his volley was cleared by Downey but fell to Barton on the edge of the box but his curling shot went just over the bar.

From the goal kick the ball was headed by Wardle into the path of Edwards and he shot instictively from 35 yards out ,but Hunter was alert to the danger and saved easily.

The approach work by both teams was looking good but everything was falling apart in the final third of the pitch; this was due in no small part to some excellent defending by both teams.

Jameson was called into action for the first time when the ball was lost in midfield and Roper was sent clear of the RCA backline. He fired in a thunderbolt of a shot, but Jameson pulled off a great save.

Hebburn were looking to capitalise on this and within a minute McMahan had set Roper up again but this time the striker could only poke the ball straght at Jameson.

On the half hour mark Fryatt played in Home-Jackson but he was fouled on the edge of the box, Edwards took the kick and Wardle got his head to the ball but couldn't steer it goalwards.

Within the space of five minutes RCA had three corners and on each occassion the ball was played in and was cleared towards the far side of the pitch with no RCA player within 20 metres of the ball.

RCA almost snatched the lead in the 40th minute when some excellent interplay between Thompson and Edwards saw the latter burst into the box before firing into the side netting.

RCA were reduced to 10 men in the 42nd minute when a long ball from Wallace fell between McGuinness and Roper. The referee adjudged that McGuinness fouled the Hebburn forward during the clash which followed. Whether it was a red card is debateable as it didn't look like he had denied a clear goalscoring opportunity. Nevertherless a red card was shown.

Robinson took the resulting freekick and blasted it well wide of the far post.

Fryatt was sacrificed in order to bring in a defender and was replaced by Bell who was making his RCA debut.

Hebburn started the second half looking to capitalise on their player advantage and were quickly on the attack, once again though Roper was guilty of wasting a good position by firing over the bar.

Having withstood the early second half bombardment, RCA went on the attack and when Home-Jackson was fouled 25 yards out Edwards fired in the freekick, it rebounded off RCA substitute Shields and fell to Lee who lobbed the ball just wide of the upright.

Within a minute, a long clearance from Downey was missed by Wardle and Robinson picked up the loose ball and advanced into the penalty area, just as he was about to pull the trigger Bell produced a last ditch tackle to clear the ball for a corner.

The corner was cleared by Wardle and the ball was fed to Goss who slipped past the full back before crossing to the near post where Thompson fired against the post, the rebound hit his knee and went into the net past the helpless Hunter.

Hebburn then threw everything including the proverbial kitchen sink at RCA but even when they beat Jameson there was someone on hand to clear off the line, Jury on one occassion from a shot by McMahan and Lee on another from a header by Robinson.

RCA should have sealed the three points in the 80th minute when Goss, bearing down on goal, chose to shoot wide rather than play the ball to Home-Jackson who was in a much better position with an open goal in front of him.

Hebburn huffed and puffed for the last ten minutes of the game and put a lot of pressure on the RCA defence, but time and again they shot wide of the target and to be fair RCA players were throwing bodies at the ball in an effort to maintain a clean sheet which is what they did.

Another hard earned three points which lifts us to eighth in the league. Bedlington at home on Saturday will be another difficult game and with three players suspended and one at a wedding it will be another much changed team from that which performed such heroics tonight.    

Saturday, 31 August 2013

EBAC Northern League Division 1

Goalscorers: SRCA, Barton  Terriers: Mellish (2), Kerr.

Sunderland RCA welcomed high flying Bedlington Terriers to Meadow Park for this EBAC Northern League match. 

With three players suspended for today's game it was always going to be a difficult task for RCA. Shields, Dodds, Clough and Goss replacing Fryatt, Wardle, Home-Jackson and Winter respectively in the RCA line up, with Jury switching to a central midfield role.

Although RCA had the lion's share of possession and plenty of goal scoring chances they were defeated by a Bedlington team who took full advantage of some below par defending to record their second away win of the season and move to the top of the first division.

The game was slightly delayed due to an injury to the match referee Mr Liddle. The senior referee Ms Robinson took charge of the game with local referee Mr Hargrave coming to the rescue with minutes to spare.

Bedlington's goalkeeper McCafferty, was called into action in the first minute when he produced a top notch save from a stunning shot by Barton and only some last ditch defending kept out the attempt of Goss two minutes later.

A high powered start from RCA as they looked to capitalise on a shaky start by the visitors.

As the game settled down it became apparent that the use of the long ball was going to be a key factor in the outcome of the game. Both midfileds were finding it difficult to get hold of the ball and play football.

It wasn't until the 25th minute that RCA had their next real opportunity as McGuinness took possesion of the ball on the half way line. He measured his cross into the box and Thompson, with a deft header, produced a good save from McCafferty collecting the ball at the second attempt.

On the half hour mark the Terriers recorded their first really penetrating move of the game when Brittain crossed into the box for Kerr to head down to Loughborough, but the Terriers player was adjudged to be offside.

Bedlington were then lucky not to be reduced to 10 men when Barton was dragged back when he was going through on goal, Harmison receiving a caution. The freekick was taken by Edwards and cleared up field.

Bedlington took the lead in the 35th minute when a long ball into the box by Dixon was headed forwarded by Mellish and the ball squeezed into the net past the despairing dive of Jameson.

RCA's response was almost immediate from the kick off. Edwards picked up the ball and dribbled his way into the Terriers area before firing low into the side netting.

Within a minute Barton had a great chance, Goss broke to the by-line before crossing to Barton, but his header was cleared by Harmison.

In the final minute of the first half a long ball from Shields found Barton inside the area, but he was unable to get control of the ball and Leason cleared.

The Terriers started the second half on fire with Kerr and Morton combining to cause early problems for the RCA defence. In the 47th minute they went 2-0 up when a long clearance upfield from Donninger was allowed to bounce by Clough and Kerr was able to get a toe to the ball and steer it over the head of Jameson.

RCA once again took charge of the game and a Goss cross was palmed away by McCafferty only as far as Edwards, but he fired over the bar.

A lifeline was given to RCA when a cross from McGuinness was poorly headed by Harmison and fell to Barton who latched on to the mistake and buried the ball into the net past the despairing dive of McCafferty.

In the 70th minute a left wing corner was met by Loughborough and his header produced a good save from Jameson.

RCA were starting to apply the pressure now and when substitute Logan was fouled on the edge of the box McGuinness stepped up and curled the ball narrowly over the bar with the keeper struggling to get near it.

A minute later and a strong penalty appeal was turned down when Winter was caught by the keeper as he rounded him, somehow managed to stay on his feet, but could only manage a weak shot which was turned away for a corner. 

The body blow for RCA arrived in the 84th minute when they conceded a free kick right. The ball was swung in to the near post where Mellish out muscled Clough to get a foot to the ball and stab it into the net from five yards out.

RCA thought they must score in the 88th minute when Logan and Leason were locked in a battle for a bouncing ball, the defender looked to get a foot to the ball and it flew over the keeper's head, bounced six inches in from of the line and bounced over the bar with three RCA players chasing the ball in and unable to get a touch. 

When your luck is out it is out and RCA carried none today. Bedlington for their part took full advantage of their chances. McCafferty was by far the busier keeper and deserved the luck that he got on occasions, although his actions in the final minute when he took out Winter near the corner flag were a little unsavoury.

In the end I don't think that we can complain about the performance of the players, nor their commitment to the cause. We played very well without any reward. We were punished for defensive lapses of concentration.