Tuesday, 13 March 2012
Brooks Mileson League Cup
Match photographs from Ron Aitchison
RCA made three changes to the team from Saturday, Craig Shields took over in goal, club captain Carl Beasley returned to the heart of the defence and Andrew Jennings started up front in a 3-5-2 formation.
If this had been a boxing match the report would probably have read: First four rounds to Dunston, two rounds shared, next four rounds to RCA, last two rounds shared with RCA delivering the knock out punch in the 117th minute of this entertaining cup match.
Dunston took the initiative from the start of this cup tie forcing RCA on the defensive for long periods in the first half.
On five minutes Shaw received a great pass from Cattanach before cutting inside to unleash a great effort on goal, but Shields was equal to it and pulled off a good save. As Dunston pressed RCA found it difficult to string two passes together, and it was only some magnificent defending by McGuinness, Paxton and Beasley that keep the scoreline at 0-0.
Galbraith whipped in a great free kick after 15 minutes that beat everone including the upright by inches. Within a minute RCA had a lucky escape when Shields was guilty of dropping a Galbraith cross, but Beasley was on hand to clear the danger. Dunston then forced a number of corners all of which were dealt with by either Shields or the RCA defence.
RCA's first real effort came after 30 minutes when Walton, given a free role this evening, swung in a low cross which evaded everyone. Dunston came back at RCA and Catternach must be wondering how he did not get on the score sheet as he headed sucessive corners goalwards, both beating the keeper and both cleared off the line, the first by Wells the second by Jones.
RCA fans had to wait until the 36th minute for their first corner and this was cleared by Robson.
In the 40th minute a cross shot from Shaw caused a moment of concern for Shields as it almost crept in at the near post, but the RCA keeper was able to scramble the ball to safety. As the half came to its conclusion RCA started to become more of an attacking force and Catternach was forced to clear his lines when Walton powered in a great header from a Jennings cross.
RCA kept up the momentum gained in the last ten minutes of the first half pressing Dunston back and it was slightly against the run of play that Chilton, finding himself in space turned and fired bringing a superb reaction save from Shields. The response was immediate as Walton, beat two defenders before delivering a lovely cross onto the head of Berj who forced the first save of the match from Connell. The momentum was growing in RCA and two minutes later a cross from Jennings was headed wide by Davison. RCA were showing why they are top of the league they were attacking at every opportunity. This attacking mode was leaving them a bit stretched at the back and a rare effort from Galbraith went well wide.
In the 67th minute RCA had a great chance to score when Berj and Walton combined to set up Jennings, but the tall striker sent his effort over the bar.
With 70 minutes gone the pendulum swung back towards Dunston. Shaw slipped past McGuinness before delivering and inch perfect cross onto the head of Hume, two yards out, but the Dunston forward somehow managed to head the ball over the bar. Both sides were now attacking in gung-ho fashion. Walton had a shot saved by Connell, at the other end Hume tried to be clever and chip the keeper and Shields made an easy save.
Shields was then forced to make the best save of the night so far when a great ball from Kane sent Chilton clean through on the RCA goal; he steadied himself before thundering a shot at goal, but Shields, diving at full stretch to his right, forced the ball fotr a corner.
RCA should have sealed the tie in the final minutes of normal time when Jennings won a 50/50 challenge with Connell and squared it to Davison 15 yards out, but the RCA striker struck the bar and the ball rebounded to safety. Both Jennings and Connell had to receive treatment following the collision.
EXTRA TIME:
The first half of extra time was poor as both teams cancelled each other out and it looked likely that penalties were going to settle it.
The second half of extra time saw a little bit more adventure as first Dunston's Shaw fired wide then Close had a shot over the bar.
The goal that clinched it in the 117th minute was a goal worthy of winning any match. Berj won the ball in midfield slipped it wide to Walton who played the ball to Davison, he played a lovely reverse pass to the overlapping Jones who burst into the box before unleashing an unstoppable shot low into the far corner of the goal. Dunston still had time to fight back and it took a good save from Shields to prevent Shaw in the final minute.
Next round away to Spennymoor Town FC on Monday 16 April 2012.