Tuesday, 8 November 2011
Northern League Cup
It was a late night for the diehard faithful who turned out for this Northern League Cup encounter with this year's regular rivals from Bishop Auckland, as a late equaliser from Bishops Steven Turnbull took the game into extra time, much to your reporter's disgust. Neal Atkinson made his debut for RCA in goal to allow Hoggy to rest his hernia, and Joe Walton came into the side in an unfamiliar central midfield position, with Carl Beasley returning at the back to replace the transfer listed Ian Maddison.
It didn't look like a late night was in prospect in the first twelve minutes of the game as close range efforts from James Oates and Brian Close, both from left wing corners, gave RCA an early cushion. Bishops fought back well and had their chances through the first half, but alongside a disallowed goal for Sparky Davison there were other good opportunities that were spurned by RCA, principally as the final ball failed to meet its target after good moves by the midfield and wingers. So 2-0 to RCA at the break.
The second half looked as if it was going to follow the same pattern, until the ever dangerous Andrew Johnson brought Bishops back into things with an excellent finish as he drove into the box, although young Atkinson will have been disappointed to see it go under his dive. That was on 70 minutes so there was time for Bishops to find a way back, and they gradually pressed more and more, and with three minutes on the clock Turnbull struck a tremendous drive from outside the box, that Neal got a hand to but couldn't stop. So extra time it was.
The game was fairly even although RCA probably had the best of the chances, and then in the 103rd and 104th minutes a second goal from Brian Close with a close range header and a superb lob from Andy Jennings surely tied things up for RCA, who led 4-2 going into the last session of the match. But Johnson notched again, and the awful idea of penalties was going through everyone's head. However RCA held on for a deserved win, sealed with the ref's final whistle at a two minutes short of 10.00 pm.