Tuesday, 29 November 2011
STL Northern League Division 1
There were defensive problems for RCA ahead of tonight's match; with Beasley undergoing a chest operation and Paxton unavailable due to family commitments it was left to the management team to call on Wayne Henderson to fill the breach.
The match kicked off 10 minutes late due to a number of Guisborough players being stuck on the A19, one of them being the first choice goalkeeper Jack Norton, to add to their problems Gary Wood took ill during the pre match warm up and had to be replaced by Nathan Steel. Norton arrived as the teams were taking to the pitch so outfield player Stephen Dowling started the game in goal. Dowling made two contributions in the first minute, coming out to collect smartly with Davison in close attendance and kicking the ball into touch so that he could be substituted by the first choice keeper Norton.
In the second minute RCA forced a corner which was taken by McGuinness and his in swinging corner was met by Benjamin whose glancing header went beyond the reach of Norton to put RCA 1-0 up and Norton’s first touch of the ball was to pick it out of the net. Five minutes later and a through ball from Close found Benjamin free of his marker and bearing down on goal, and only some excellent covering by Lee Bytheway prevented him from getting his shot in. Within a minute Benjamin popped up on the other wing, but this time he was adjudged to be offside.?
Guisborough looked to have weathered the early pressure and were starting to utilise the wind and the slope to their advantage. A strong run by Luke Bytheway was only stopped by a strong challenge by Oates, but the ball ran free to L’Anson, fortunately his effort was well wide of the target.?
A good move between Onions and Henry saw the former fire straight at Atkinson in the RCA goal.?Then came the move of the match so far when RCA Forced another corner. Tt was taken by Owens, who passed to Cuthbertson on the edge of the box, he returned the ball to Owens who dribbled past two defenders before sliding the ball to Davison who deftly flicked the ball into the path of Oates, but he could only steer his shot wide of the post, if only the chance had fallen to a forward then it could have been 2-0.?
Within a few minutes Owens was at it again skipping past a defender before curling a wonderful ball into the area. Lee Bytheway was alert to the danger and cleared for a corner under pressure from both Davison and Benjamin. From the corner Johnson headed clear and Onions picking the ball up in his own half, turned and delivered a pinpoint accurate pass into the path of Henry who with only the keeper to beat fired wide of the target.?
The game was flowing from end to end and the outcome of the game, it was felt, would depend on who scored the next goal.?
A Davison freekick was well saved by Norton who set up Guisborough’s next attack with a long throw out to Onions who set off down the line with McGuinness in pursuit. As Onions cut back into the box McGuinness appeared to catch Onions before the ball, but the penalty appeal was waved away by the Referee. As so often happens on these occasions RCA went up the other end and Owens' cross into the box struck the inside of the back post and in attempting to clear the rebound Luke Bytheway sliced the ball into his own goal.?
Guisborough seemed to raise their game at this point and started to pressurise the RCA defence. It took some good defending from Jones to come across and thwart a decisive move by Onions and a last ditch tackle from Henderson prevented L’Anson from getting his shot on target.?As the half came to it conclusion Guisborough were awarded two freekicks in quick succession in dangerous positions. The first was blocked by the RCA wall, but the second, taken by Luke Bytheway, beat the wall but was well saved by Atkinson.?
At half time nobody could have forecast the total domination by RCA in the first 20 minutes of the second half as they overwhelmed the Guisborough defence.?
In the 50th minute RCA were awarded a free kick near the corner flag. Owens floated the ball to the back post where Oates met the ball and headed it back across goal to McGuinness who fired over from 12 yards out.
?A minute later and RCA were awarded another free kick. Up stepped Davison and fired in an unstoppable shot which took a slight deflection off the wall before hitting the top corner of the goal leaving Norton rooted to the spot. Four minutes later and it was 4-0 as Cuthbertson carved open the Guisborough defence with a lovely ball to Benjamin and the RCA forward clipped the ball over the advancing Norton.
?In the 60th minute Benjamin completed his second hat trick in succession when Owens slipped the ball past the full back before delivering an inch perfect cross onto the head of Benjamin who just does not miss from that range. As is normal Benjamin was immediately substituted, job done. On came Jennings to replace him and his first contribution to the game was to chip a delicate cross to the far post for Davison, his powerful downward header was brilliantly saved by Norton, but Davison followed up and stabbed the ball past the keeper. The rout was completed two minutes later when Cuthbertson beat the offside trap before setting up Davison for his hat trick.?
Guisborough’s defence was in turmoil and RCA were in devastating mood and really should have had more goals as the rain came pouring down to even more dampen the spirits of a very demoralised Guisborough team.
?Both sides had chances late in the game but the damage had been done in that blistering 20 minute period just after half time.
?RCA climb to the dizzy heights of third in the league and must surely be looking at another season in the first division.
Click here for the SportsByte Sunderland report on the match.