Kyle Fryatt, who opened the scoring for RCA with a terrific goal, in second half action.

Saturday, 4 January 2014

EBAC Northern League Division 1

Goalscorers:  SRCA:  Fryatt, Morris, Barton, og   Consett: Mellish, Sullivan, Mackay.

Please click here for photos from the match.

Please click here for NLFPP video from the match.

An away day at the new Belle View Stadium to face a Consett team who were in free-scoring mode on the artificial surface.

The ground is indeed impressive and the off field facilities are very good. However the pitch surrounding leave a lot to be desired. Whenever the ball went over the barrier surronding the pitch it had to be retreived by a ball person wearing a pair of Wellington boots due to the quagmire conditions.

On the pitch SRCA made four changes to the team so comprehensively defeated last weekend by Newton Aycliffe. Andrew Brown returned to the centre of midfield after a bout of tonsilitis, Ross Wilkinson came in for Ross Preston who was on holiday, Kyle Morris was preferred to Steven Bayles and Jack Stanger would partner Brown against his former club.

Both teams started well trying to play football on ground. Gilberto was finding a lot of space in the centre of midfield and his range of passes was causing RCA problems, while the lively Fryatt was causing the Consett defence problems of their own with his mazy runs.

The first real shot on goal came in the 10th minute when Sullivan picked up a ball from Gilberto, squared the ball to Mackay and the former Hartlepool striker fired in a low shot which Carmichael turned round the post for a corner. Wilkinson headed the resultant corner forward to Fryatt who slipped his marker and set off on a 20 yard run; his cross into the box was well held by Elliott.

A throw out from Carmichael found Jury on the right. He moved into space before playing the ball into the path of Barton who cut the ball back to Morris; his first time shot flew inches wide of the upright.

Consett responded to this threat and Gilberto twice set up Mackay, but both efforts were sent well wide of the target.

In the 24th minute of the game a Carmichael freekick was headed down by Barton into the path of Morris who once again fired wide of the target.

Two minutes later RCA had the ball in the net. A cross from Fryatt was heading toward Barton when Elliott managed to get a hand on it and the ball fell to Morris who fired into the roof of the net, the referee disallowed the goal for a foul on the keeper.

It wasn't long before RCA went in front a ball in from Stanger fell to Fryatt and the RCA winger rode three challenges before rounding the keeper to slide the ball into an empty net.

Back came Consett, Sullivan picked up the ball from Gilberto, played a quick one two with Mackay before sending in a thunderous shot which Carmichael saved low down to his left.

RCA were coming under a lot of pressure as the game neared half time and after a number of near misses Consett finally equalised. A corner was headed away by Wray only as far as Smith who headed the ball back into the area where Mallish was first to react heading into the net betond the outstretched arm of Carmichael.

The momentum of the game was swinging from end to end with both teams committed to all out attack.

In the final minute of the half RCA took the lead, Brown picked up the ball on the right wing and sent a 50 yard pass just beyond the Consett's defence. Morris controlled the ball on his chest before dispatching the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

The second half started as the first half had ended. RCA were awarded a freekick on the left which was crossed into the 18 yard area where, under pressure from Barton, Piecha headed past Elliott and into his own goal.

RCA looked to control the game now, but this is never easy against a Consett team who move the ball from defence to attack so quickly.

In the 55th minute RCA were awarded a freekick on the right. Jury sent in a good cross which was met by Brown, Mellish picked up the loose ball and sent it forward into the RCA box. Sullivan, with his back to goal, chested the ball into the air before producing a perfectly executed bicycle kick into the roof of the net for a truly superb finish.

RCA almost extended their lead minutes later when Jury picked up a great ball from Fryatt and burst into the penalty area before cracking in a shot which Elliott just managed to turn away for a corner.

Consett continued to press forward in search of the equaliser and in the 70th minute a corner from Bell was headed goalward by Smith, but Jury managed to head the ball off the line with Carmichael beaten. The ball fell to Mackay who fired just wide.

Consett were applying constant pressure on the RCA defence which had been reorganised due to an Injury to Wray, Horsman and Wilkinson fought valiantly for every ball ably assisted by Aaron Brown and Jury.

However there was little they could do about the 85th minute equaliser. A shot from Smith appeared to be going wide of the target when it struck Wilkinson and rebounded to Mackay who struck a powerful drive into the bottom corner of the net.

Consett went all out for the winner as they pressed forward, RCA were resolute in defence and the game looked to be heading for a draw. Deep into stoppage time - five minutes on my watch -  a long, hopeful ball was played into the box where Barton forced a mistake by the Consett defence. The ball fell into the area and Barton didn't need a second touch; he just slid the ball home.

What a game, both teams attacking at every opportunity, some absolutely brilliant goals and both defences putting their bodies on the line.

For RCA to take six points off a very good Consett team this season is little short of a miracle but the effort and commitment shown today from 1 - 16 is what makes the spirit in the team so special.

Unbeaten this year onward and upward, next up Whitley Bay, can we improve our home record if we can then we should finish well above the relegation zone. A great effort by everyone today.

Kyle Morris, scorer of RCA's first goal, on midfield ball winning duties.

Saturday, 11 January 2014

EBAC Northern League Division 1

Goalscorers: SRCA: Morris, Hughes    Whitley Bay: Reid

Please click here for match photos.

SRCA were forced to make two changes to the team that played so well in last week's win against Consett FC. Danny Wray failed a late fitness test and was replaced by Ross Preston; Jack Stanger was unavailable due to work commitments and Nathan Wilson stepped into the vacated midfield position.

Whitley Bay took advantage of the slope and the wind in the first half and were quickly on the attack forcing RCA to defend in the early stages. A ball into the box by McFarlane was headed away by Preston but fell to Chow on the edge of the box, the Bay striker fired in a low shot which was deflected for a corner.

In the ninth minute a free kick taken by Anderson was headed goalwards by Chow, but Jury was on hand to clear off the line. The ball fell to Novak 30 yards out and the full back crossed into the box towards Rivers, but Preston got to the ball first and was able to clear.

RCA tried to pick up the pace of their game and when Brown slid the ball to Fryatt the winger showed tremendous pace to outstrip the Whitley Bay defence, but when he cut inside to shoot he found Ameobi in his path and he was easily dispossessed by the defender.

On 20 minutes a cross into the RCA penalty area by Anderson was picked up by Rivers, but Preston was once again on hand to block the shot.

The Bay were in control of the match at this point in the game and when Novak picked up the ball on the left wing he was left unchallenged as he ran twenty yards before crossing into the area where Chow controlled the ball on his chest before turning and shooting into the side netting.

Novak was seeing a lot of the ball in the first 30 minutes and was involved once again in the Bay's next attacking move which saw him hit the post from 20 yards out after RCA defence had not dealt with a corner very effectively. Minutes later the full back struck a 40 yard shot well wide of the target.

The Bay continued to press and when Rivers and Chow played an intricate one-two the ball fell to McMullen inside the six yard area, but his shot flew well wide of the goal.

RCA eventually started to make inroads into the Bay's defence. Patton received a great through ball from Wilson, jinked past one defender, but was tackled by Ameobi and the ball was cleared.

Within a minute RCA had their first shot on target when Morris slid in an inch perfect pass to Wilson who fired in a low shot which was collected by Harley.

In the final moments of the half Fryatt slipped past his marker again and this time managed to  get in a shot  which went narrowly wide.

Whitley Bay continued to press forward at the start of the second half and Rivers was guilty of missing the target after being sent clear by Chow's lovely through ball.

Against the run of play RCA took the lead. A cross field ball found Morris on the angle of the penalty area, the RCA winger rode three tackles as he worked the ball into a central position before unleashing a terrific low shot past the outstretched hand of Harley and into the bottom corner of the net.

The goal lifted RCA and they could have been two up five minutes later when Barton headed the ball on to Patton who found space for the first time in the game, but could only shoot straight at Harley.

The introduction of Moore almost had an immediate effect as, with his first touch, he went clear of the RCA defence before blasting his shot well wide of the target.

In the 80th minute a corner for Whitley Bay was headed down by Reid and cleared off the line for the second time in the game by Jury. The play was quickly switched to the other end of the pitch and where Barton's shot was blocked by Ryan, the ball spun past Marley but Ameobi was quick to react and cleared the ball off the line,

In the 85th minute substitute Hughes was fouled on the edge of the box by Ameobi. Wilson struck a beautiful free kick which was brilliantly saved by Harley, but the ball fell to Hughes who volleyed the ball home from close range to record his first goal for RCA on his debut.

Whitley Bay got back into the game in the last minute of normal time when a corner wasn't cleared by the RCA defence. The ball fell to Chow who had his shot blocked, but Reid was on hand to stab the ball home from close range.

This set up a final few fraught minutes for RCA who once again were forced to defend deep in their own half and it was of great relief to the RCA players when the final whistle was blown.

On another day this could have been a heavy defeat for RCA, however, it shows how far we have come in recent weeks. Everyone is now showing great commitment to the cause and in this game it was evident right throughout the team.

Whitley Bay for their part will reflect on the amount of possession they had and on the amount of missed chances.

Next week we play Team Nothumbria in what will undoubtedly be classed as a six-pointer. If we produce the same level of performances as the last two weeks then we should be capable of getting a result there.

Saturday, 25 January 2014

EBAC Northern League Division 1

Goalscorers: SRCA - None  West Auckland: Close, Campbell

SRCA welcomed title chasing West Auckland to Meadow Park and after their defeat at Ashington in mid-week they would be looking for a much improved performance today. RCA were without a game for two weeks and were looking  to continue their undefeated start to 2014.

The pitch passed a 10:30am inspection and the match referee declared the game on at 1:45pm, although the rain that had fallen in the intervening three hours made for very slippery and boggy conditions underfoot.

RCA took advantage of the slope in the first half, but it was West who created the first opportunity when Garthwaite slid the ball to Richardson on the edge of the area, but the West front man fired well wide of the target.

West were playing some good passing football at this early stage of the game and it was causing RCA problems just trying to get a touch of the ball.

In the ninth minute Richardson picked up a loose clearance, passed the ball forward to Moffatt who laid the ball off to Richardson, he, in turn, squared the ball to Close who drilled in a powerful low shot which flew into the bottom corner of the net to record his first goal for West, ironically against his former team.

The match could have been level a minute later when Barton met a Wilson corner, but his powerful downward header was somehow tipped round the post by Nixon in the West goal.

The game had livened up and West went back on the offensive with Richardson picking up a pass from Close, cutting inside before unleashing a terrific effort which flew inches wide of the far post 

RCA struck back and when a cross field ball from Brown was missed by Green and fell to Fryatt, he sent in an inch perfect low cross into the path of Patton who guided the ball into the net past Nixon, unfortunately it was, harshly in my opinion, ruled out for offside.

With 20 minutes gone West upped the tempo again and RCA were forced onto the back foot, a cross from Briggs was headed against the bar by Richardson and scrambled clear by the RCA defence. The passing and movement of West was almost unbelievable at times, especially given the condition of the playing surface.  

However RCA were not finished yet, not by a long chalk and it was they who had the next real effort. Fryatt picked the ball up from Jury, slipped past his marker before sending in a cross shot which Adam Wilkinson headed inches wide of his own goal with Nixon stranded.

Moffatt had a great chance to settle the game in the 37th minute when a long clearance fell to him 20 yards out, but Carmichael produced a brilliant save, racing from his line to block the shot and collect the ball at the second attempt.

As the game drifted towards half time RCA started to push forward, but were leaving themselves open to a quick counter attack and in the 42nd minute the quick thinking of Close sent the ball forward to Garthwaite who fired wide of the target.

The opening of the second half started in bizarre fashion. Nixon picked up the ball in his area, his clearance struck Patton on the back, as the RCA forward reacted to the loose ball he looked to be fouled by Nixon inside the area and fell to the ground, the referee stopped play and awarded a freekick to West for a hand ball by Patton.

West took control of the second half as they went forward at every opportunity, leaving RCA to respond with quick breakaways.

Moffatt headed over the bar after some good work by Briggs down the left wing.

In the 55th minute a freekick by Garthwaite was headed over the bar by Adam Wilkinson, then a last ditch tackle by Ross Wilkinson prevented Moffatt from scoring. This was immediately followed by more pressure as Richardson once again rattled the woodwork with a great header.

Although under massive pressure RCA were still in the game at 1-0 and Ross Wilkinson almost restored parity when he rose unchallenged to a Wilson freekick but his header went over the bar.

At the other end Close released Briggs who shot low and hard toward goal but Carmichael proved to good for him with an exceptional one handed save.

In the 80 minute a good piece of play by Jury and Brown released Hughes who controlled the ball but before he could get in a telling shot Green somehow got acroos to block the ball at the expense of a corner.

Carmichael was called upon a minute later as substitute Banks twisted and turned inside the area before shooting  into the arms of Carmichael. There was even time for another substitute Byrne to get in on the action with a long range effort that Carmichael dealt with somewhat dismissively.

Unfortunately for Carmichael and RCA, West's other substitute Campbell did get on the score sheet in the 92nd minute when Carmichael made a terrific save from Briggs, but the ball fell to Campbell five yards out and he made no mistake.

After the match both managers were interviewed by Ray Simpson: West manager Peter Dixon said; “I think we should have scored more goals, but their keeper had a blinder. We couldn’t make the game safe until late on, and there was always a risk that we could leave the back door open.”

Sunderland RCA manager David Lee said; “We were always in the game at 1-0, and if we’d taken one of our half chances, then we would have caused them problems. But keeper Jonathan Carmichael and defenders Ross Preston and Ross Wilkinson were excellent.”

Next up Penrith at Home on Tuesday. However, the weather forecast for the next few days is for RAIN followed by RAIN followed by more RAIN with a possibility of SNOW.