Sunday, 21 March 2010
Joe Holborn Memorial Trophy - Quarter Final
RCA The Barnes finally saw off a very strong challenge fron Division 1 side Thorney Close Inn by five goals to three on Sunday, but they needed an 89th minute equaliser and then further goals in extra time before booking a semi-final tie against Grangetown Florists or Silksworth Golden Fleece on Easter Sunday at Meadow Park.
RCA started on the front foot and got off to the perfect start, when after David Newby drove through from the right wing he squared across the six yard box for John Turvey to tuck home after just five minutes. RCA however failed to build on this start and became very sloppy with their passing, not helped by a tricky surface after rain and the junior match on Saturday. Thorney started to believe they could get something out of the match and they duly equalised after 25 minutes when Paul 'Hodgy' Hodgson took a through ball into the box and cooly finished past keeper Atkinson.
RCA upped their game after this set back and took the lead again with a Michael Curtis penalty after 40 minutes to take the game to half time.
The second half saw Thorney equalise after 50 minutes when a free kick was floated into the six yard box, Atkinson missed his attempted punch and Ricky Clayton fired home into the unguarded net. RCA then had long spells of possession, but wasted numerous openings by either choosing wrong options or not moving the ball quickly enough including a glaring miss by Andy Place after rounding the keeper, but hurrying his effort and hitting into the side netting.
Thorney made RCA pay for their sloppiness and took what looked like a winning lead after 85 minutes when Shaun Lumsden scored after poor defending from RCA. That looked to be that for RCA, but in the dying moments they were awarded a free kick half way in Thorney's half on the right hand side. When Johnny Davis floated the ball to the far post Andy Place's glancing header just crossed the line before the despairing attempt by keeper McGregor to claw it out came to nought as the referee awarded the goal, to give a full time score of 3 - 3 and take the match into extra time.
RCA to be fair took control in extra time and should have scored on numerous occassions, but had to settle for a Michael Curtis header and, from yet another fine free kick from Johnny Davis, a cool finish from sub Andy Gilbert to give a final scoreline of 5 - 3 to RCA.
So three tough games coming up: next Sunday away to Plains Farm in the league at Bede Centre 10:30am KO; Tuesday, 30 March against Landsdowne in a quarter final of the Total Sport Challenge Trophy, 7:00pm KO at Meadow Park and a semi-final against Grangetown Florists or Silksworth Golden Fleece on Easter Sunday, 4 April, in the Joe Holborn Memorial Trophy at Meadow Park 10:30am KO, at Meadow Park.