Saturday, 13 March 2010
Under 18s League
This was a must win game for both youth teams if a championship challenge was to be made with current league leaders Lumley.
RCA squad has recently been depleted due to players deciding to spread their wings and move into senior football. A squad of fourteen was further reduced prior to kick off when Nathaniel Crinson pulled up with a hamstring problem. The good news was that James Alston had completely recovered from an ankle problem that had persisted in recent weeks.
Like the three previous tight encounters this season, the game opened with pace and was lively contested in the midfield area. RCA settled down into their passing game, but it was Nissan who created the first opportunity on goal, Jonathon Greening finding space down the left and racing onto goal he cracked a great left foot effort that cleared the bar by inches. However RCA got a deserved opener, when Jordan Cook wide right drilled a great cross pass into the feet of Lee Andrews who flicked on to his strike partner Alston, who accelerated immpresively before despatching the ball past the advancing keeper. RCA upped the ante and it was no surprise that a second came, but not until the 40th minute when Andrews again got the ball to feet and pushing again to Alston who this time raced on rounding the keeper before slotting into the open goal with style. Right on half time Nissan dragged themselves back into the game when a corner was only half cleared by RCA to a loose forward who cleverly back heeled though a crowded area into the net. Nissan 1 RCA 2.
RCA again raised the level and were generally controlling possession, but finding no headway against an organised defence. However on the hour mark Mark Robinson was introduced to the game down the left and his pace caused problems immediately. Racing down the left he moved in on the keeper who closed the angle, forcing the forward wide and whilst the shot connection was with great pace, the ball cleared the bar. The same player nearly scored again when good work down the right saw a cross fed in, but whilst Robinson connected the ball was cleared off the goal-line with the keeper beaten.
The visitors were not to be denied though, and on 75 minutes got a deserved third goal. Good possession from back to midfield created a half chance that was cleared by the defence wide right. When the ball arrived to Jordan Cook (who had proved a crossing threat all day) he drilled it back first time across goal which was met by Andrews who shot at goal. The ball was parried by the keeper out to James Alston again who made no mistake from 10 yards as he gleefully smashed home. An excellent hat trick by a young forward in his first year of youth football.
Nissan pushed again, but RCA were showing composure and resilience and there was no way back for the home side. An excellent three points which keeps title hopes alive going into the last six matches. It might be a big ask to win all those games, but the team will be aiming to get into the top three. which will be some achievement given the good quality at the top of the South League.