Saturday, 3 December 2011
STL Northern League Division 1
RCA right back Adam McGuinness clears the ball in the first half of Saturday's game against Newton Aycliffe.
Click here for a slideshow of photos from the match.
RCA went back to the top of the first divison with a heart fought victory against a very good Newton Aycliffe team. Few teams will come away from Newton Aycliffe Sports club with three points this season.
It took two terrific first half strikes by Davison and Benjamin to secure the win and break the hearts of the home team who had enough chances to at least have secured a draw.
RCA made one change to the squad who won convincingly in mid week, Paxton replacing Henderson in central defence.
Newton Aycliffe started well forcing RCA to defend in numbers, however it was not until the eighth minute that the home side really threatened, when a defensive mistake gifted the ball to Gardner, who squared the ball to Jardine, but the Aycliffe striker fired wide of an empty net. RCA looked to have weathered the storm and were making in roads into a very shaky Aycliffe defence.
Gardner had his first sight on goal in the 18th minute as he whacked a 25-yard half-volley goal wards, but Atkinson saved comfortably.
In the 20th minute a cross from Walton was headed over by Benjamin, as RCA started to take control of the game. Two minutes later and the lively Benjamin turned inside the defender to fire in a shot which Pocklington got a foot to and conceded a corner. Walton took the corner and Davison running across the face of goal was able to flick the ball into the net, the ball taking a slight deflection off Campbell.
RCA went further ahead when a long ball found Benjamin on the edge of the box, he controlled the ball superbly before turning his marker and then drilling an unstoppable low drive past the despairing dive of Pocklington and into the far corner or the net.
For all their endeavour Aycliffe could not find a way to breach the RCA defence and did not look like scoring. RCA, at 2-0 up, looked reasonably comfortable.
Aycliffe started the second period on fire as they went at RCA and within a minute Campbell forced a great save from Atkinson and following up in the goalmouth scramble he could only force the ball over the bar with Oates and Close closing him down. RCA were once again having to defend deep and in numbers as Aycliffe asserted some pressure and Atkinson was called upon again to make a finger tip save from Gibson after some good work by Jardine. From the resulting corner Craddock rose highest in the area to meet Broom’s corner, only to see his effort cannon back off the face of the crossbar and Oates managed to clear to safety.
This was to be their last real effort on goal as RCA got to grips with the midfield and started to attack at will. Benjamin latched onto a through ball from Cuthbertson, rounded the keeper, but fired into the side netting. Shortly afterwards RCA were forced to make a change as Davison was substituted, hobbling off after a late challenge left the RCA forward with a badly swollen ankle.
Cuthbertson once again showed his vision as he found Owens with a sublime pass with the outside of his foot. Owens' cross into the box was narrowly headed over by Benjamin and minutes later the ball fell to Cuthbertson who, from 35 yards out, struck the ball goalward and it took two attempts for Pocklington to get the ball under control.
As the game petered out Broom, who had been very effective on the right, beat McGuinness before cutting the ball back for Jardine, but once again he fired over the bar.
RCA must be pleased to come away from Aycliffe with a clean sheet. We have also found a midfield partnership that works brilliantly and complements a great strike combination. Long may it continue.