Wednesday, 4 April 2012
STL Northern League Division 1
Scorers: SRCA: Close, West Auckland: Johnson, Gibson
RCA made two changes to the team beaten by Spennymoor on Saturday, bringing in Berj for Davidson and a fit again Cuthbertson for Beasley. Oates reverted to a more familiar role at centre back and RCA started with a 4-3-3 formation.
Unfortunately for RCA, as so often this season they have failed to deliver the goals in the important games. Much as Devon Loch raced into the final straight at Aintree, miles in front, only to stumble and fall when no obstacle was put in its way so RCA have failed to produce in their last two matches against good opposition. They had numerous chances to win this match but could not deliver in front of goal.
However let us not detract from the wonderful season that Neil and the team have had. It has been like a breath of fresh air to the STL Northern League and as it stands at the moment we are still sitting proudly on top of the pile and others have to win matches to overtake us. Realistically fourth place is a massive achievement and anything better than that now is a bonus.
RCA started really well against the treble chasing West Auckland and forced them to on the defensive. As early as the second minute a cross from found Close free at the far post, but the RCA captain was unable to get his shot away before the challenge of ex-RCA player Hall. However, in almost a carbon copy of this move RCA took the lead on eight minutes,. Walton waltzed past Preston before sending in a great cross which was flicked on by Jennings to Close at the far post; this time he composed himself before firing past Bell.
It should have been all over bar the shouting three minutes later when a cross from McGuinness found Jennings unmarked in the box. The tall striker placed a perfect downward header towards goal, but it hit the post before rebounding to safety. Within a minute another cross from Walton had the West defence at sixes and sevens and it was only the intervention of keeper Bell that stopped Davison scoring.
It wasn’t until the 18th minute of the game that West had an effort on goal when Nichols chanced his arm from 30 yards and Atkinson did well to hold onto the ball as it swerved viciously in the air. RCA came back and once again it was Jones who skipped past Preston, but Hudson was able to get across to block the shot.
Campbell gave West supporters a rare glimpse of what they are capable of when he got on the end of a cross from Gardner only to see his header go straight into the arms of Atkinson.
RCA had a strong claim for a penalty turned down when Jones’ cross into the box seemed to be controlled inside the area by the arm of Nicholls, but he waved the protests away.
West took advantage of the disruption in the RCA team and Johnson latched on to a poor ball out by Atkinson to return a fiercely curling shot past the stranded keeper and into the top corner of the net.
With minutes to go to half time Walton again crossed to the far post for Close, who seemed to be having a field day on the left. The RCA captain cut inside and looked to be impeded inside the area; the referee awarded a penalty which seemed rather harsh. Walton stepped up to take the spot kick, but instead of his usual well struck kick he tried to place the ball and Bell, at full stretch made a great save.
There was an explosive start to the second half as both teams responded to the “hair dryer” treatment received in the respective dressing rooms.
Walton still seemed able to get crosses in at will and a beautifully weighted pass to Jennings almost led to the striker scoring, but the ball went harmlessly wide.
The game was starting to liven up and the introduction of Rea at half time had something to do with the resurgence in belief of the West team. He superbly controlled the ball before passing into the path of Nicholls, but he struck his shot high over the bar. From the goal kick, Davison headed on for Walton and his pass into the box was met by Close, but from eight yards out he managed to drag his shot wide.
Rae produced a stunning save from Atkinson when Moffatt set him up. Atkinson was then able to find Walton from his kick out and the RCA winger chose to try and beat the defender when the easier option was to feed the ball to Cuthbertson who was free inside the box. To the relief of the West fans, Walton was withdrawn shortly afterwards and within two minutes West had taken the lead. Hudson won the ball and passed it to Nicholls. He slipped it inside to Moffatt who in turn sent the ball into the path of the advancing Gibson who drove the ball into the bottom corner of the net.
RCA tried to respond and Davison was unlucky with a shot from a well worked corner, but his shot flew over the bar.
As the game wore on RCA were almost caught on the rebound as Rae and Moffatt were finding massive gaps in their defence and it was up to Atkinson to make two good saves to keep the game level.
In the 88th minute RCA were reduced to 10 men when ex-West player Berj was rightly dismissed for a second bookable offence.
In the final minute of added time RCA were almost level when Cuthbertson burst past the defensive line of West and only needed a touch to beat Bell, but the West keeper got to the ball first to deny RCA a valuable point.
RCA dominated first half possession and West could not have been aggrieved if they were 3-0 down. A master stroke by West in introducing Rae in the second half gave them the impetus to go on and secure all three points.