Monday, 2 January 2012
STL Northern League Division 1
RCA started the New Year with a brilliant 3 - 2 win against a Shildon team who boasted three ex-RCA players.
The management team welcomed back Steven Jones at right back and introduced recent signing Tom Berj into a three man midfield. With the emphasis on attack they started with a 4-3-3 formation which looked to catch Shildon off guard. RCA went 2-0 up in the first half only to be pegged back early in the second half before showing their character, making it 3-2 before having to hold on late in the game as Shildon poured forward looking for the equaliser.
A chat with the groundsman before today’s match revealed that if the match had been scheduled for 24 hours earlier it would have been off as the pitch was under water, a great testament to the ground staff at Shildon who managed to get this match on. Although the pitch was very heavy in places the two teams served up an entertaining and in the end a very exciting match. The early stages of the first half were fast and furious with neither team able to settle on the ball and play the sort of football that they are capable of.
Shildon carved out the first opportunity when Price receiving the ball from Richmond, evaded the tackle of McGuinness, before unleashing a shot which Atkinson did well to turned round the post. The response from RCA was immediate. Jones found Owens with a 50 yard cross field pass, Owens played a one-two with Davison, before curling a shot well wide of the upright. A minute later and Cuthbertson played in Walton, but his first time effort was blocked by Watson. RCA were in control of the game at this point and it was only a matter of time before they made their supremacy pay dividends. When the goal came it was so simple: a throw in near the corner flag was given to Owens, he skipped past two tackles on the by line before slipping the ball to Davison who tapped in from two yards out.
RCA should have increased their lead five minutes later when a corner was headed down by Davison and Keegan’s clearance landed at the feet of Oates who fired over the bar from 10 yards out and the Shildon defence nowhere to be seen.
Shildon were restricted to long balls out of defence in the hope of catching the RCA defence out. In the slippery conditions this was not difficult and a slip by Paxton almost let in Johnson, but Oates and Close tidied up and set RCA up for another attack.
RCA were awarded a freekick about 25 yards out. Owens, Walton and Close stood over the ball while the referee took a long time explaining to Watson the reason for the freekick. Owens clipped the freekick in to the near post and debutant Berj met the ball perfectly to head home, 2 - 0 up and in cruise control. In the dying minutes of the half RCA had the ball in the net again but the referee adjudged that Paxton had impeded the keeper before heading home.
The second half saw a resurgence from Shildon as they powered forward in the opening five minutes and RCA had to defend in numbers to keep them at bay. A good move between Price and Johnson ended when Johnson’s shot was blocked and the ball fell into Atkinson’s arms. RCA were guilty of switching off in the 60th minute when Shildon were awarded a corner. Price ran 30 yards to receive the ball some 25 yards out before unleashing a screamer of a shot which flew into the top corner of the net. Shildon were now rampant and RCA looked to be wilting under the pressure. It was only a matter of time before the pressure told, a low cross into the box by Price looked to have been defended by Paxton but the ball fell to McCabe who beat the first defender before shooting low and Oates, sliding back to block was adjudged to have handled the ball. Up stepped Price to send Atkinson the wrong way and the game was back to all square.
RCA showed the resilience at this point as they took the game to Shildon and two minutes after the penalty shock Berj was unlucky to see his shot rebound off the post to safety. However, RCA regained the lead in the 68th minute when another long ball out of defence found Owens totally unmarked on the left wing. He carried the ball for 20 yards before curling a delectable shot out of the reach of Finch and into the far corner of the net. Shildon looked shocked by this and RCA should have capitalised on their hesitancy when Cuthbertson picked up the ball and floated a beautiful ball into the path of Davison, but Keegan was able to get a block on the ball.
From the 80th minute onward Shildon threw everything at RCA with Keegan moving into a forward role and placing extra pressure on the RCA defence. However RCA once again showed great teamwork and were able to hang on to the end. Shildon did have a shout for a penalty which was waved away by the referee, but really for all their huff and puff they never really created a clear cut chance and Atkinson in the RCA goal was always available to punch or catch the ball to avert any danger that threatened.
RCA, due to other matches being cancelled, have now moved three points clear at the top of the league.