RCA goal scorer Stephen Callen makes a trademark forceful attack in the first half of the match.

Saturday, 7 February 2015

EBAC Northern League Division 1

Scorers: SRCA: Callen,    Bishops: None.

Please click here for photos from the match.

Please click here for photos by Peter Jackson.

Once again RCA were playing at the Nissan Sports Complex as the problems surrounding RCA’s pitch continue.

RCA were forced to make changes to the team who played so well against today’s opponents 10 days ago, with both Bythway and Weldon unavailable the management team re-shuffled the team, Preston moved to the heart of the defence and Richardson was brought in at left back. Callen was recalled to partner Larkin up front.

For their part Bishops had both Pocklington and Tarling returning after suspension.

The game kicked off in bright sunshine and it was RCA who went on the attack from the start, in the first minute Megran was set up by Rowe and he sent in a rasping shot which Pocklington saved quite comfortably.

RCA continued to press forward and in the fifth minute a slick move between Larkin and Callen saw the latter break down the right before crossing towards Larkin, but Poole was on hand to clear the danger.

Bishops' first attack came down the left as Lavery crossed into the box, Butler rose highest to get in a header which was easily saved by Carmichael.

The game was already opening up as the ball was switched from end to end, a through ball from Megran fell to Charlton but his shot was saved by Pocklington.

Within a minute the ball was at the other end and this time it was Thompson on the right crossing into the path of Butler who struck a thunderbolt of a shot which Carmichael blocked one handed and then, with Davis bearing down on goal, the RCA keeper managed to punch the ball clear a truly magnificent double save.

RCA took the lead in the tenth minute. Rowe won the ball in midfield before sending it forward to Larkin, he played an inch perfect pass into the path of Callen who shrugged off the challenge of Poole before slotting past Pocklington and into the bottom corner of the net.

The home team's lead could have been extended three minutes later when the influential Rowe clipped the ball through to Larkin who cut inside before powering in a shot which Pocklington did well to save, he could so easily have been embarrassed when his throw out fell straight to Megran but the RCA midfielder fired the ball straight back to a relieved Pocklington.

As the game became a battle of the two midfields chances were few and far between and both teams looked to play long hopeful balls forward with little purpose.

However RCA continued to show a great spirit and looked solid at the back. It wasn’t until the half hour mark that they was any further real goalmouth action and it was Bishops who provided it, Tarling winning the ball on the right wing moved forward before squaring the ball to Thompson but he fired over the bar when in a good position.

Two minutes later at the other end Pocklington picked up a through ball and for the second time in the game he threw the ball out straight to an RCA player this time it was Callen who fired the ball back towards goal but Pocklington was able to make a good save diving to his right.

Once again the game started to open up with both sides guilty of misplaced passes and only some good defending stopped any further scoring chances.

As the game drifted towards half time Bishops best chance fell to Davis who headed over a freekick from Lane while RCA’s best chance fell to Preston who headed over from a corner.

The second half saw Bishop’s pouring forward in an attempt to equalise and RCA defending in numbers and as the half progressed they got deeper and deeper into their own half.

In the 50th minute, what looked like a terrific challenge from Brown on Davis was punished with a freekick on the edge of the box. Tarling stepped up and fired in a low drive through the wall which Carmichael did well to block and Preston was on hand to clear the ball up field.

Bishop were passing the ball well at this point but with little penetration in the final third.

On the hour mark a ball into the box by Tarling was punched clear by Carmichael. The ball fell to Davis whose shot was blocked this time the ball rebounded to Lane who fired goalward but Brown was able to get a head on the ball and deflect it for a corner.

It was all Bishop in an attacking sense as they continued to send players forward. In the 75th minute Lavery fired in a long range shot which flew over the bar.

Carmichael came to RCA’s rescue once again in the 80th minute when a cross into the box by Johnson was flicked goalwards by Davis but the RCA keeper was alert to the danger and saved diving to his left.

RCA were restricted to long balls out of defence as the midfield tired and in the 83rd minute should have sealed the match when a long ball forward bounced invitingly for Larkin who chipped the ball over the advancing Pocklington, but the ball drifted wide of the goal.

A minute later and the same player almost scored a fluke goal as he broke down the right, his cross into the box was poor but actually deceived the Bishops' keeper landing on top of the net.

In a grandstand finish Bishops threw everything they had at RCA including sending the keeper up for a last minute corner.

RCA weathered the storm and ended up with the three points.

Although this was a less convincing performance than the one 10 days ago at Heritage Park, the defence looked solid and until Rowe suffered an injury mid way through the second half we looked good in midfield. Up front both Larkin and Callen worked hard in the first half but looked a little leg weary by the end.

Next up is Ashington away, never an easy game and with them getting a new management team in this week it will give the game added importance.

RCA left back Paul Weldon stops a cross from the Ashinton winger in the first half of the match.

Saturday, 14 February 2015

EBAC Northern League Division 1

Goalscorers: Ashington AFC: Oliver,   SRCA: None.

Please click here for some match photos.

Woodhorn Lane is never an easy place to visit and today was made all the more difficult with the appointment, at the beginning of the week, of Stephen Harmiston as manager. There was certainly a buzz about the place and it was obvious that the players were up for the game.

RCA made one change, recalling Weldon at left back to replace Richardson.

Ashington started well pinning RCA back in the opening minutes of the game. Downey had the first shot on target in the second minute when he shot from 20 yards out through a crowd of player and forced a good save from Carmichael.

RCA were finding it difficult to come to terms with the pitch and their passing game was suffering as misplaced passes gave possession to a rampant Ashhington team.

In the eighth minute Harmiston found Stephenson on the right and he crossed into the path of Davison, but a great tackle from Preston deflected the ball for a corner. Stephenson took the corner which was headed away by Brown, but the ball fell to Walton who scuffed his shot and the ball was scramble behind for another corner which was easily cleared by the RCA defence.

The game then became scrappy and both sides were guilty of poor passing.

In the 18th minute RCA had their first real chance of the game when Megran split the Ashington defence with a superb pass into the path of Callen, the RCA forward cut the ball back instead of shooting and Christensen was able to block the shot and send the ball for a corner. Armstrong took the corner and Callen headed wide of the target.

A long ball out of defence by Ashington found its way to Taylor and with his back to goal, he swivelled with the ball before firing in a low shot which forced another save from Carmichael.

As the game drifted to the half hour mark it was RCA who, having weathered the early  storm, looked the more likely to score. A rasping shot by Larkin from 25 yards was brilliantly saved by Grant.

An injury to Brown forced the first substitution of the game with Bythway replacing him in the heart of the defence.

Both teams were cancelling each other out and the game continued to be very scrappy with little goalmouth action of note.

In the final five minutes of the half a ball from Bythway to Larkin on the right opened up the Ashington defence and when he crossed into the area the ball was met by Megran who smashed in a shot which flew wide of the goal.

The second period opened brightly for RCA who forced Ashington onto the back foot with a string of attacks.

Rowe sent a ball forward to the edge of the Ashington penalty area where Callen controlled the ball before laying it off to Larkin who blazed a shot inches over the bar.

A minute later and Armstrong and Rowe combined to send Larkin clear on the right. The RCA forward crossed into the box where Megran chested the ball down before firing goalward only to see Grant get a fingertip to the ball and deflect it for a corner.

RCA were starting to turn the screw and it took some brave defending by Ashington to stay in the game.

Only five minutes into the second half and RCA had already created more chances than in the whole of the first half and they kept on coming. Armstrong picked up the ball on the left slipped it to Callen who played in Megran and he produced another stunning effort which went inches wide of the upright.

A minute later and Rowe picked up a loose ball in midfield, played it to Charlton who crossed into the box for Larkin, he beat his marker before shooting but his shot took a deflection for a corner.

Armstrong took the corner and it was swung to the edge of the box where Bythway fired in a shot which appeared to be handled by an Ashington defender, the referee waved away the vociferous appeal of the RCA players.

As is the case with these incidents, the ball was switched to the opposite end of the pitch and Ashington took the lead when, after some good build up play on the left the ball was passed inside to Oliver who sent in a curling drive which crept just inside the RCA goalpost giving Ccarmichael no chance.

Within a minute RCA were unlucky not to be level when a throw in from Weldon was picked up by Larkin and the RCA striker fired just over the bar.

As in the first half the game became scrappy but the ball was being moved from end to end and at least chances were being created, a cross in from Taylor found Davison in acres of space inside the box but the Ashington winger headed wide.

At the other end Larkin set up Charlton who fired in a cross shot which Callen flicked goalward forcing a great save from Grant.

In the 75th minute RCA once again carved out a great chance when Weldon picked up the ball on the left and sent a tantilising cross towards the back post where Jury rose and powered in a header, once again Grant was on hand to make the save and deny RCA a share of the spoils.

In the final minute of normal time a long ball into the box by Christensen was headed away by Jury and fell to Airey who thundered in a tremedous shot which cannoned off the bar  and away to safety.

Ashington saw out the final minute of added on time to gain their second victory of the week for the new manager.

Getting nothing out of today's game was hard to take given the amount of effort that went into the match from the whole team. We didn't get the luck when we needed it and we lost to a very good goal in the end.

Next up Newton Aycliffe on Tuesday.

Josh Carmichael dives to save in the second half of the match.

Saturday, 21 February 2015

EBAC Northern League Division 1

Goalscorers: SRCA: Callen   Shildon: Emms (2), Donniger, Greulich-Smith, Wood.

Please click here for the usual match photos. Click here for photos by Tom Clegg and Amanda Scaife (black and white set.) Please click here for The Railway Men's match report.

Apologies to my faithful reader for the lateness of this report, unfortunately I was away for a few days and didn't get time to do it.

RCA travelled to Shildon‘s Dean Street ground for their twice postponed Ebac Northern League Division 1 match and came away with nothing but a lesson in direct forward play.

Gee Errington took charge of the team in the absence of Martin Swales, Larkin was unavailable and Armstrong was rested after suffering a dead leg in the match against Ashington. That meant Bythway and Brown partnered in the centre of the defence with Preston moved up front again to partner Callen.

Shildon AFC made it look easy soaking up any forward play by RCA in the opening minutes and on seven minutes Greulich-Smith headed over from a Hodgson cross.

A minute later Rae received the ball in space and with only Carmichel to beat he fired wide of the target. RCA held on until the 25th minute when Wood slipped his marker and crossed to the unmarked Emms who slotted home from 10 yards out.

Shildon piled on the pressure and Scroggins almost made it 2-0, but squandered a great chance shooting wide when in a good position.

RCA’s attacks looked to be easily dealt with by the Shildon defence with Moore leading by example.

A snow shower made for some entertaining photographs but little in the way of goalmouth action until the 44 minutes when Wood again found space on the right, passed the ball to Rae who unselfishly teed the ball up for Emms to slam in his second goal of the game.

With the slope in the second half Shildon piled on even more pressure but it was the visitors who had the first real chance of the half when Wood set up Megran who fired in a terrific shot which was fingertipped over the bar by Hayes.

Within minutes Callen burts through on goal, but his effort went wide. However the revival was short lived as Shildon took complete control of the game and after Emms, had missed a good chance the ball was fed wide by Rae to Jones who crossed to Greulich-Smith who placed the ball past the outstretched hand of Carmichael.

Two minutes later the game was well and truly over when Rae crossed to the far post for Wood to tap in from two yards out.

Doninger completed the scoring with a deft chip over the advancing Carmichael, despite looking a yard off side, to make it 5 – 0.

RCA produced their best spell of foolball in the final ten minutes and Bogie was unlucky with a low shot which went narrowly over the bar and in the 87th minute RCA got a consolation goal when Callen reacted quickly to an unusually poor defensive clearance to volley the ball through a crowd of players and into the roof of the net.

Not RCA’s best performance of the season but they must move on and with Newton Aycliffe on Tuesday there is a chance to redeem themselves.

The proverbial six-pointer? Time will tell.

Tuesday, 24 February 2015

EBAC Northern League Division 1

Goalscorers: SRCA: Megran,   Newton Aycliffe FC: none

After Saturday’s crushing defeat against Shildon, RCA made the trip to the Moore Lane ground for their rearranged fixture against fellow strugglers Newton Aycliffe.

Changes were made by the manager and in came Larkin and Armstrong to replace Weldon and Rowe. Preston returned to the centre of defence, while Bythway was moved to left back. Larkin was to be supported up front by Callen and Armstrong came in on the left of midfield.

RCA started well keeping possession and passing the ball from the off, a ball forward from Wood to Larkin split the Aycliffe defence and Larkin spotting Charlton at the far post crossed the ball to him, unfortunately his shot was blocked by Stephenson at the expense of a corner.

Aycliffe's first attempt on goal came after a misplaced pass from Armstrong fell at the feet of Laidler and he fired in a rising shot which Carmichael saved brilliantly tipping over the bar.

The game became a battle of midfield, both teams electing to play a very tight game. There was little in the way of action in either goalmouth and the keepers were restricted to clearing back passes.

The midfield battle seemed to be going the way of RCA as the half hour approached and when Wood found Charlton with an exquisite pass the winger cut inside before passing to Larkin who controlled the ball well before firing low at the target, Winter read the situation and was able to make the save look easier than it was.

Two minutes later and RCA should have taken the lead Brown sent a long defensive clearance into the path of Larkin who left the Aycliffe defence for dead, he then flighted in a wonderful cross which beat Winter and Callen steaming in at the back could only manage to steer the ball onto the post and it rebounded straight to the Aycliffe keeper.

In a rare Aycliffe attack Young was fouled, Garthwaite took the freekick and Mitton was allowed time and space in the box,  luckily for RCA his header was weak and wide and easily picked up and cleared by Jury.

Another run by Larkin was spotted by Megran and he sent a slide rule pass to the centre forward who once again tried to pick out Callen, but Stephenson was able to get a head to the ball and clear the danger.

Aycliffe responded with a flowing attack of their own, Young and Boagey combining to get in a cross which Bythway slid away for a corner. The resulting corner into the box was met unchallenged by Mitton but the ball flew over the bar.

At the start of the second half RCA took the bull by the horns and went all out for an early goal and it was only some good defending by Mitton and Stephenson which kept them at bay.

In the 50th minute, despite being upended, Wood was able to thread a great ball into the path of Callen who then produced a terrific shot which Mitton did really well to block.

It was almost all one way traffic and it was no surprise when RCA took the lead, a precision pass from Preston found Hughes on the left, he played a wall pass with Armstrong before squaring the ball into the box where Megran, totally unmarked, was able to control the ball before sidefooting past the advancing Winter.

Aycliffe's only response to going behind was a long range effort from Archer which flew high and wide.

RCA would have gone 2-0 up but for an unexpected bobble as Callen went to shoot, having drifted across the box from the right, his final shot sailing narrowly wide of the far post.

The game continued to be played in the Aycliffe half and another trademark Larkin run opened up the home defence again, this time he picked out Megran ghosting in at the far post, unfortunately he could not steer the ball into the empty net and had to watch agonisingly as it went over the bar. RCA were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty in the build up to that effort when Hughes was deliberately fouled as he moved toward the ball.

As the game drifted toward its conclusion it got really scrappy and the only real chance of the final five minutes was a superb save by Carmichael from a thunderbolt of a strike by Banks which effectively kept RCA in the game.

This was a much improved all round performance by the team. Larkin and Callen are starting to get an understanding going while the back four of Jury, Brown, Preston and Bythway looked really solid and with Carmichael behind them it is developing into a formidable defence. In midfield both Wood and Megran were organised while Charlton and Armstrong provided the width. It was also nice to see both Hughes and Richardson come on after long lay-offs and both got involved straight away.

Next up is Jarrow Roofing at Meadow Park and a meeting with near neighbours. The meeting between the two teams earlier in the season was a decent encounter with Campbell scoring two for Roofing and look were he is now.

Saturday, 28 February 2015

EBAC Northern League Division 1

Goalscorers: SRCA: Larkin,  Jarrow Roofing: Teasdale (3), Morien.

Jarrow Roofing were today's opponents and with both teams recording victories in mid-week a keenly fought contest was envisaged.

RCA made two changes to the side who performed so well on Tuesday night against Newton Aycliffe, Richardson was brought in to replace Preston who is away on a family holiday and Davis replaced Charlton who hadn't fully recovered from the injury sustained on Tuesday.

The game opened with RCA attacking down the slope but it was the visitors who launched a stunning counter attack in the second minute. An RCA freekick was headed clear and picked up by Pilatos who in turn found Chow on the right the Roofer's attacker cut into the box before sending in a low cross across the face of goal which Carmichael parried into the path of  Teasdale, who, at the second attempt, managed to get the ball over the line.

Both Teasdale and Chow were causing problem for the home team defence the two combined in the 20 minute to set up Morien who, with his back to goal managed to turn and shoot  but Carmichael was able to save low down.

It wasn't long however before Roofing extended their lead, in 25 minutes a long clearance from Marshall was was flicked on by Chow into the path of Teasdale who sprinted clear of the RCA defence before shooting past Carmichael.

Within a minute RCA were back in the game when the persistence of Larkin paid off when he chased down a loose back pass from Pilatos, got control of the ball before deftly clipping the ball past Hunter.

RCA could and possibly should have been level 3 minutes later when a cros into the box from Jury found Callen on the edge of the box and the RCA striker produced a stunning over head kick which slammed off the upright and was cleared by Marshall.

While Chow and Teasdale were causing problem for RCA at the other end Larkin and Callen were doing likewise to the Jarrow defence .

A through ball from Megran found Larkin on the left and his cross was met by Davis who fired in a low shot which went narrowly wide.

Minutes later and a Carson freekick was controlled by Chow on the edge of the box and the Roofing striker produced a sublime curling shot which went narrowly wide of the post. .

The second half started slowly with both teams looking to take command of a very conjested midfield, Roofing looked to be winning the battle and in doing so committed a number of fouls on Wood and Megran which went unpunished by the officials.

RCA started to lose their discipline and when Pilatos fed the ball to Chow inside the area Wood was guilty of a rash challenge which ended with the Roofing stiker falling inside the area and the referee awarding a penalty. Up stepped Teasdale to blast the ball into the bottom corner of the net past Carmichael for his hat-trick.

RCA tried in vain to recover from this set back but Jarrow were in no mood to let them get any sort of a foothold in the game,

Chances were few and far between in the second half, the best chance for RCA came after an excellent piece of play by Larkin who beat his marker before crossing into the box where Bogie headed the ball into the path of Megran who blasted a great shot goalwards only for Hunter to produce a magnificent save with his right leg.

As the game headed into injury time Jarrow completed a miserable day for RCA when a poor back pass to Carmichael saw Chow charge down the keepers clearance and Morien had the simple task of shooting into an empty net to make it 4-1.

RCA couldn't take a lot from this game, we gifted them 3 of the 4 goals. Defensively we were poor, we allowed Jarrow to dictate the game and we lost our discipline.

What was particularly annoying from a spectators view, was the fact that we never got our passing game going. When we play football we look a good team, when we play long ball, we give the ball away cheaply.

Next up on Tuesday is Morpeth.