Whitehaven Amateurs 5 Sunderland RCA 3

skilltraining Northern League

24 March 2009

Supporters, players and committee gathered at 3.30pm on Tuesday showing enthusiasm for the historic midweek journey to Whitehaven. No spare capacity on the buses, so Will Frater keen RCA supporter and season ticket holder had good foresight in turning down the offer of a possible lift and making his own way on the train (maybe he knew something we did not. The early departure caused disruption to the manager's squad plans as a couple of players could not get out of work on time. A squad of 16 travelled, including Liam Gill from the U21 team with Marc Moon and Anthony Ashman from our U18s.

Neil Hixon had plenty of time to consider his options and without three main central defenders again, decided to hand the team sheet in showing four changes from Saturday's line up. Steve Jones was swapped to central defence, Gary Shields moving to right back from midfield and Glenn Moan moving to central midfield. Adam McGuiness reverted to left back with Sean Joseph in front of him on the left side. Whitehaven kicked off appearing to sense the squad changes and attacked at a ferocious pace. Winning possession immediately down the left the ball was crossed to where McGuinness cleared for a throw in, level with the edge of the box. The ball was quickly knocked back to the left wing to David Dustin where the attacker beat the offside trap, knocked the ball to the back post where Robert Fowler for Whitehaven raced in to easily slot home. SRCA one down after two minutes. Definitely unsettling and there was no relenting in the early stages. Losing possession again the home side were clearly up for it and moving the ball again quickly down the left they won a free kick, then consecutive throw ins. After some neat passing the ball arrived to the feet of David Dunstin and he pushed forward with plenty of defenders in front of him. Moving down the wing on an inside left position he beat the first defender before cutting inside. Showing real skill now he beat another defender moving into centre and when a pass looked the best option he hit a terrific 25 yarder, which flew in along the wet surface past Hoggeth's right hand giving him no chance. 2 - 0 down and barely six minutes on the clock. SRCA clearly in for a long night. The pattern of play did not change much in the first 20 minutes as RCA could not settle down and Whitehaven were not changing their game plan of hitting the ball from anywhere in their own half to the pacey wing forwards. However when the visitors did settle down it was much more like it.

Joseph on the left began beating his markers on every occasion, but was pulled down (not with malicious fouls but clumsy challenges). Stewart out wide started to play very well down the right. One direction now with RCA winning corners and free kicks consistently. Davison and Jennings were dominating in the air from crosses, Glenn Moan and Anth Laidler were winning second balls in midfield …surely a goal was on its way. When Joseph was pulled down again on the left, time for the referee to have words with the culprit. No. Whitehaven broke away down the left again full back Shields did commit a bad foul first one and booked. Good times indeed!

However no stopping our forward momentum. A goal had to come and it did. Winning a corner again the home defenders made three blocks before the ball landed at the feet of Davison who did well in keeping the ball down and fired through a massive cluster of players into the net. 1 - 2 and back in it at last. Full steam ahead and Whitehaven definitely backs to the wall. Wave after wave of attacks before the key moment of the game on 43 minutes. The ball played down the right to Stewart who beat his man before moving the ball to Davison in the box. Taking the ball down on his chest he turned onto his left foot hitting a decent effort that the keeper palmed out to the feet of Laidler who gleefully hit home. 2 - 2 and real celebrations! No, a linesman has seen an infringement and unbelievably it's offside. Whitehaven taking advantage of the chaos moved the ball quickly down the left which number 9 Craig Robson sprinted on to. Running close to the bye line and into the box he hit a tremendous shot into the bottom corner of the net. Great goal and louder celebrations than before. The referee blew for half-time and SRCA players and supporters were shell shocked. 3 - 1 down was very hard to take.

The second half kicked off with Hixon making a tactical change for RCA switching Jones back to right back, Glenn Moan back to central defence and Mick Coghlan coming into the centre of midfield. If RCA were lively in the latter part of the second half then they really upped the ante know and Whitehaven set their stall out to defend the lead. The good surface suited RCA's style and some slick passing and movement even had coach George Herd applauding from the sidelines. Both wingers were getting used, but unfortunately the forwards could not get close enough on goal to make the efforts count. But after the hour a fantastic swift move involving seven players, Jones moving the ball quickly to Stewart, switching inwards finding Moan, then Coghlan, Laidler involved before the ball was switched to the left where Joseph racing forward hit a fantastic cross into the box where Jennings racing in at the penalty spot position rifled a header into the roof of the net: Goal of the Month and possibly a contender for Goal of the Season. Even the Whitehaven supporters applauded. 3 - 2 to the home side and game on. Real one way traffic now and RCA piled bodies forward in search of the equaliser.

Whitehaven were on the ropes and defending numerous corners. However it was only a matter of time and after 75 minutes RCA drew level again ... No! A cross was fired into the box and Jennings spotting the keeper off his line headed firmly from distance, the keeper racing back grabbed the ball which looked well over the line, he spun to push the ball back onto the goal-line as he landed and at this point, RCA celebrated, the referee looked at his linesman …again…. No …Linesman unbelievably did not flag for the goal. The match reporter who was one yard from the linesman's position was shell shocked……and still is. However no feeling sorry for ourselves as the attacking play continued and got its just rewards minutes later. Another corner was won on the right and Joseph hit in a great curler to the back post where McGuinness got up well to head home. 3 - 3 and real celebrations now, better than all previous! Only one winner now surely? No! Whitehaven were re-ignited and they now threw men forward quickly. In one of their few attacks of the half they also won a corner on the right and when this was hit to the front post Karl McGrady met with a firm header that flew into the net. 4 - 3 to the home side…..and you can imagine the scene. Minutes left and RCA again chasing an equaliser were caught again on the break and the home side won another corner on the right. Hit in to the same area, this time it was met with a half volley by Kevin Law. 5 - 3. What can you say! For the neutral a great game. For RCA a real dent to our promotion hopes. Life's tough!