RCA captain Gavin Barton leads by example as he tackles and wins the ball.

Saturday, 5 April 2014

EBAC Northern League Division 1

Goalscorers: SRCA: Barton (2), Hughes, McAvoy: Bedlington: Williamson, Dobson

Please click here for photos from the match.

This match was billed as a six-pointer, two teams at the wrong end of the table playing for their survival in the ENL first divison. Neither team were looking at the results of other clubs to help them, the pre match talk on the terraces was of getting something out of todays match to relieve the pressure at the bottom.

RCA recalled captain Gav Barton to the team replacing Jim Wilson and the evergreen Wayne Henderson was brought into cover for Aaron Brown who has left for foreign lands. Danny Wray was unavailable due to work commitments.

Both teams started, understandably, nervously and the opening ten minutes were very scrappy with neither team coming to terms with a very uneven surface.

In the 10th minute Fryatt was released on the right wing by Jury; his cross into the box was met by McAvoy 12 yards out and he hit the ball first time over the bar.

The reaction from the Terriers was instantaneous. Goss won a header inside the RCA half and the ball fell to Watson who sent in a terrific volley which was cleared off the line by Henderson. The ball was then picked up by Williamson who made a great run forward before unleashing a low drive which Carmichael did well to save at the foot of the post.

The ball was sent forward by Carmichael to Patton who controlled the ball superbly on the left wing before setting off on mazy, dribbling run which saw him beat three players before firing in a low shot which Towart could only parry into the path of Barton who made no mistake fron five yards out.

RCA started to get to grips with the midfield and looked in control of the game. Fryatt was causing all sorts of problems down the right and when a through ball from Stanger was picked up by the winger he burst into space before sending in a low cross which again was met by the advancing McAvoy who forced a great save from Towart.

The Terriers continued to battle away and almost got the equaliser on the half hour when Watson nipped past two defenders before sliding the ball to Goss who's shot was well saved by Carmichael and a minute later Goss fed the ball to Williamson who broke into the box before stabbing the ball goalward, producing another super save from Carmichael.

RCA went 2-0 up in the 35th minute when a dribble by Fryatt saw the ball switched to Patton who lobbed the ball forward to the edge of the area were Barton controlled the ball before firing in a truely superb volley which Towart could not stop nestling in the bottom corner of the net, despite getting both hands to the ball.

The young guns of Bedlington earned a lifeline in the 40th minute when, from a RCA throw in, they won the ball on the left wing. Dobson played the ball to Goss who slipped the ball into the path of the advancing Williamson and he made no mistake, slamming the ball home from 10 yards out.

The second half opened in electrifying fashion. A freekick was awarded to the Terriers and from about 30 yards out Watson struck a great shot which Carmichael could only palm up into the air and luckily for RCA Preston was on hand to head clear with Goss in close attendance. From the resultant corner Carmichael punched clear (it was later discovered that he had damaged his hand in doing so).

The ball was cleared to Patton who moved forward before bringing Hughes into the play, the RCA forward  dribbled into the box before stabbing the ball wide of the target, a little bit more composure and he could have sent the ball sideways to Barton who was in a great position to complete his hat trick.

RCA were once again starting to impose themselves on the game and in particular Patton who was seeing a lot of the ball.

In the 53rd minute a lovely through ball from Stanger released Patton inside the box and it was only some brilliant defending by Dixon that prevented him from scoring.

A minute later and Patton picked the ball up on the left, cut inside before slipping the ball to Hughes who crossed to Barton who could only steer the ball over the bar from six yards out.

RCA went further ahead in the 60th minute. Hughes won a corner on the right which was swung to the back post by Patton, picked up by Preston who fired in a shot which was deflected wide for another corner. Patton again took the kick and this time it was aimed to towards the fornt post where Hughes swooped to glance a header into the top corner of the net.

The relief on the pitch was evident and whether the RCA players relaxed or the Bedlington players upped their game is debateable, what was clear was the sudden surge of energy the the Beddlington team got as they went for broke.

Patton was replaced after picking up an ankle injury after a clumsy challenge by Watson.

Watson picked up the ball in the centre of midfield and sent a great ball forward to Williamson who blazed the ball wide of the upright.

A minute later and Williamson was on hand to send in a cross which was defended at the near post by Jury. Then McRoberts chipped in a teasing cross which looked to strike the bar but was adjudged to have been tipped over the bar by Carmichael. 

Carmichael punched the ball clear from the corner, but it was won back by Watson, who was having an outstanding game; he slipped past the tackles of two defenders before shooting past the post.

In the 77th minute, McAvoy had a wonderful chance to finish the game off when he broke away from the last defender but with only the keeper to beat he lobbed the ball straight into the arms of Towart.

RCA killed the game off in the 84th minute. A throw in by Jury was controlled by Barton who flicked the ball over his head into the path of Hughes who outpaced the Bedlington defence before looking up and cutting the ball back into the path of McAvoy who slammed the ball home from ten yards out to make it 4-1.

Bedlington showed their resilience and spirit when, after Davison had fired wide in the 91st minute, they got a consolation goal when a tantalising cross into the box was met by Dobson who volleyed the ball dramatically into the net giving Carmichael no chance. 

The relief of the RCA players, management team, committee and supporters was evident as First Division survival was all but secured with this win.

Team Nothumbria, having lost today, need to win all their remaining games against Ashington, Spennymoor and West Auckland to stand any chance of staying up.

After two brilliant performances against Guisborough and Ashington, RCA never reached those heights today, but what they did do was to grind out a result against a young spirited Bedlington side.

RCA will have learned a lot from today's experience, they were able to cope with a tricky surface continued to play some good football and also scored some good team goals.

We need to start looking at next season and let's make sure that we keep hold of the good youngsters on our books and next season could well see SRCA fighting for a top ten position.  

Finally congratulations to West Auckland FC on reaching the FA Vase final, especially to ex-RCA player Brian Close who deserves more than most his day out at Wembley.        

Kyle Fryatt evades Shildon captain and ex-RCA player Mark Hudson in the second half of the match.

Saturday, 12 April 2014

EBAC Northern League Division 1

Goal scorers:  SRCA : none,      Shildon: Emms (2), Richardson (2).

Please click here for photos from the match.

Ashington’s win against Team Northumbria on Thursday guaranteed First division status for RCA for next season. This is a great achievement for David Lee and Stephen Halliday with the small squad of players at their disposal and the commitment of the players to the club has been first rate.

Today’s match against title chasing Shildon was a time to relax and try and enjoy the game. With Ross Preston leaving for Thailand on business and not available for the rest of the season it was left to Daniel Wray to step back into the central defensive position, Jim Wilson came in for Callum Patton in the only other change to the team that won so convincingly at Bedlington last week.

Shildon, who needed a win today to keep up the pressure on the other top teams started the game in determined mood as early as the third minute a quickly taken freekick by Hudson released Garvie on the left and his cross was palmed away by Carmichael before Horsman cleared from the toe of Scroggins.

Further pressure from Shildon ensued and it was only some brilliant defending by Henderson and Wray that kept the score line at 0-0. A wicked curling cross from Garvie was met by Connor who was tackled by Wray, the ball rebounded to Greulich-Smith but his shot was charged down by Henderson and the ball fell kindly for Carmichael.     

The only real chance of the half came in the 35th minute of the match when Craddock took a quick freekick, something which was causing RCA some problems, the ball was headed away by Wray only as far as Greulich-Smith whose snap shot went over the bar.

As the half closed RCA mounted number of counter attacks without seriously troubling the Shildon defence and it was the home side who produced a counter attack of their own when a long ball out of defence by Richardson found Emms in space on the right, the winger cut inside before unleashing a low drive into the side netting.

A very tight and easily forgettable first half was followed by a very open second half as RCA tried to take advantage of the win, unfortunately for them it had somewhat died down from the level of the first half.

A run by Fryatt into the box had the Shildon defence a sixes and sevens but his final ball toward Barton was intercepted by Jones and the ball was cleared.

In the 52nd minute Shildon took the lead when Scroggins won the ball in midfield, sprayed the ball wide to Garvie who cut the ball back into the box where Emms was on hand to fire an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net.

RCA tried in vain to get back into the game and in the 55th minute Horsman was unlucky when he picked the ball up on the half way line, ran 15 yards before striking a thunderous shot goalwards, only for it to take a deflection which took it narrowly wide of the upright.

Ten minutes later Shildon were awarded a dubious freekick near the corner flag, Emms this time became provider sending in a perfect cross which was met by Richardson who headed into the net.

RCA were shell shocked and it got worse two minutes later when Scroggins picked up a loose ball before sliding the ball into the path of Emms who scored easily from close range.

It was left until the 90th minute before Shildon finished the scoring Emms once again found space on the right before crossing into the box where Richardson was on hand to volley home from 10 yards out.

RCA seemed to run out of steam in this game and after the first goal went in Shildon looked likely to score every time they went forward. After a fairly even but uneventful first half Shildon stepped up a gear.

Unusually for RCA they seemed to lose control of the midfield area and this resulted in the defence becoming stretched. After the heroics of the last few weeks the team can be forgiven a below par performance.

Next up a trip to Penrith on Tursday.

The 'Blood Moon' lunar eclipse phenomenon was apparent in Cumbria during the match.

Tuesday, 15 April 2014

EBAC Northern League Division 1

Goalscorers: SRCA: Morris :  Penrith: og. Hall, Rigg, Coleman, Wilson.

The 170 mile round trip to Penrith turned into a disastrous night for RCA as another abject second half performance saw them well and truly beaten by a much better organised and disciplined Penrith outfit.

With Stanger and Patton unavailable due to work commitments and Barton and Jury stuck in traffic on the A66 the team that started was as follows: Carmichael, Halliday, Horsman, Wray, Henderson, McAvoy, Fryatt, N Wilson, Morris, Hughes, J Wilson. Subs: Barton, Jury, Shields, Stanger and Patton were named in case they could get off work early.

RCA opened the game on full throttle and pressed Penrith onto the defensive, they deservedly took the lead in the eighth minute when a through ball caught the Penrith defence flat footed and Morris took full advantage bursting into the box before slipping the ball into the net past a bewildered Newton to make it 1 0.

Unfortunately that was as good as it got for RCA's following supporters as Penrith took the game by the scruff of the neck.

Why it took until the 23rd minute for the home team to equalise was down to some good saves by Carmichael and at least one shot cleared off the line.

Penrith's equaliser had a bit of luck attached to it as the ball was centred into the box from a freekick on the right, McAvoy, under no pressure at all, headed sweetly into his own goal.

Three minutes later and a through ball from Rigg found Coleman in acres of space, but Carmichael was equal to the striker's shot, saving low down to his left.

On the half hour Penrith upped the tempo again and Carmichael had to be at his best to save from Coleman again and then a flowing move starting with Davison saw the ball switched to Tinnion who played the ball into the path of Read whose crafty little backheel found Coleman and once again Carmichael was equal to the shot.

In the final minutes of the half RCA withstood a barrage of shots in a goalmouth scramble which saw shots rain in from Coleman, Rigg and Hall before the ball was cleared off the line by Henderson.

In the final minute of the half Penrith were awarded a corner which was swung towards the far post where Hall rose unchallenged to head home from close range.

In the opening minute of the second half RCA won a corner and Nathan Wilson took it, sending the ball to the far post where Horsman headed the ball down toward Barton whose snap shot was blocked by Little and cleared up field.

Two minutes later and a Penrith corner was headed toward goal by Rigg and cleared by Horsman.

On the hour mark another corner for Penrith saw the ball headed down by Tinnion to Coleman, but he shot wide.

Twice in quick succession a long ball from Simpson found Tinnion in acres of space and on the second occasion he forced a superb save from Carmichael.

The RCA keeper sent his clearance forward where Barton controlled the ball well before scuffing his shot and it was easily picked up by Newton.

Penrith killed the game off in the next two minutes when Tinnion once again found space on the left before crossing into the box where Rigg was first to the ball heading powerfully past Carmichael.

From RCA's kick off the ball was won by Paul on the left, he sent the ball forward to Coleman who somehow managed to squirm his way past four RCA defenders before unleashing an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net, 4-1 down in the blink of an eye.

RCA's response was via Hughes who found himself one-on-one with Newton, but could only chip the ball straight at the Penrith keeper.

A Shield's free kick caused problems in the Penrith box when Newton punched the ball away, but it fell to Horsman however his cross was missed by Barton and cleared.

In the 87th minute Penrith completed the scoring when substitute Wilson latched onto a through ball and fired first time into the net.

This was a night to forget if you are a fan of RCA. 

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. 

Tuesday, 29 April 2014

EBAC Northern League Division 1

Scorers SRCA: None Spennymoor: Dodds, Cogdon, Capper.

The final game of the season saw us drawn against League champions Spennymoor Town.

RCA made two changes to the team that started on Saturday, Brown replaced the unavailable Henderson and Fryatt returned to the right wing in preference to Hughes.

The game started at a pedestrian pace with Spennymoor content to keep the ball and RCA were happy for them to have the ball at the back.

RCA looked to be getting the better of the midfield exchanges, but the game livened up in the 20th minute when a Capper freekick was headed away by Wray. Stanger picked up the loose ball before sending an inch perfect pass to Barton. The RCA striker clipped the ball into the box where it looked certain that Patton would score if he got his head to the ball, but Jeffries was first to the ball to avert the danger.

He rolled the ball to Richardson who sent a great ball forward into the path of Dodds who kept his cool to slot the ball home low to Carmichael's right.

A minute later it was two when an almost identical ball found Capper who switched the ball inside to  Cogdon  who blasted the ball home.

Spenny were rampant now but RCA regrouped and got themselves sorted out defensively.

Unfortunately, in the 40th minute, they were reduced to 10 men when captain Barton was dismissed for an alleged elbow.

The second half saw Spennymoor with massive amounts of possession, but nothing that posed a threat to RCA until Capper popped up with a goal, starting and finishing the move.

RCA huffed and puffed, defended really well at times, but were not creating anything going forward.

In the last 10 minutes of the game a terrible challenge by Walton left Wilson with a nasty gash in his leg, it could so easily have been worse. Yellow to the ex-RCA player another night another referee could have seen red.

Next up Seaham Red Star on Saturday. Unfortunately no match report from me. However it is possible that Seaham's programme editor will be producing one.

See you all next season.