FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round replay
Tuesday, 14 August 2012
The hoodoo of the FA Cup continues at RCA with this defeat against Ashington. The euphoria of Saturday's last gasp equaliser completed eradicated with a woeful second half performance that saw Ashington take complete control and run out worthy winners.
Ashington progress to the next round of the FA Cup and will face an away match against Marske United FC.
The first 10 minutes saw a similar pattern to Saturday's match with both teams looking nervous and edgy, the first shot of the game came on 5minutes when a laong crossfield ball by Cave found the unmarked Taylor but he snatched at his first time effort and it went well wide of the target.
RCA's first chance of the half came on 10 minutes when Youldon and Close combined to set up the overlapping Jones, in space inside the goal area he opted to shot but his curling shot went narrpwly wide with Dryden beaten.
The game was coming to life now and Taylor for Ashington was causing problems with his surging runs, in the 12 minute, he received a lovely pass from Dugdale but was unable to find the target hooking his shot wide.
Back came RCA, a through ball by Hudson found Guerin-Lokonga, the RCA forward laid the ball off to Youldon but his shot was well saved by Dryden.
Cave carved open the RCA defence with a great run and cross to the edge of the area where Johnson hit the ball first time and Atkinson was forced to save.
In the 20 minute Ashington must have thought they had taken the lead when Taylor latched onto a pass from Bell and thundered a shot against the foot of the post and the ball was scambled away for a corner. From the resulting kick Taylor was once again left unmarked but, with a free header his effort went over the bar.
RCA responded to this pressure with some of their own, Youldon received the ball out wide, played the ball to Jones who's cross eluded Dryden and fell to Guerin-Lokonga who brought the ball down before volleying over the bar.
Within two minutes RCA were in front as they produced a great passing move, starting with Hudson and close winning the ball in the centre of the park the ball was swithed to the right to shields who crossed to the far post where Guerin-Lokonga once again brought the ball down, this time he laid the ball off for Gordon who volleyed a low rasping shot into the bottom corner of the net.
RCA continued to press and a Gordon Cross was met at the back post by Shields but he was unable to take advantage and shot into the side netting.
A poor back pass by Paxton put RCA under pressure as Bell collected the ball in front of Atkinson before squaring the ball to Walton but his shot was blocked by Preston.
As the half came to a conclusion both teams had half chances probably the best falling to the head of Bell but he headed over. He could be excused this miss as he had his head heavily bandaged after a collision a few minutes earlier with one of his own players.
The second half got off to an explosive start, RCA should have gone 2-0 up when Youldon found himself free inside the 6 yard box but somehow managed to completely miss the ball with the goal at his mercy.
A minute later and a cross from Gordon found Guerin-Lokonga but he could only direct his header wide of the post.
In the 49 minute Ashington were awarded a contravertial penalty for what looked like holding. Unfortunately Walton didn't seem to have his shooting boots on tonight and fired well over the bar.
The game started to get bogged down a little with RCA inexplicably reverting to a long ball game against two of the tallest Central defenders in the league. Ashington to their credit were trying to play through midfield and had in fact succeeded in taking control of that area of the pitch.
The pressure was mounting on the RCA defence but they looked like they were cabable of repelling the Ashington Forwards.
However in the 70 minute with the Ashington team appealing for a freekick for a late challenge on Dugdale, the referee played advantage and the ball was quickly passed to Taylor who made no mistake from 20 yards out.
Within a minute a Trough ball from Antony found bell inside the box but the tall striker mishit his shot straight at Atkinson.
In the 73 minute in a carbon copy of the previous move Bell this time made no mistake, curling the ball round the keeper and into the net.
The only response from RCA was a cross from McGuinness which was headed wide by Guerin-Lokonga and a half chance to substitute Jardine.
Ashington were in controla of the match now and RCA looked tired. Antony should have made it 3 -1 but mishit his shot when one on one with the keeper and Bell had a shot late in the game that his the top of the crossbar.
Ashington on tonight's performance were well worth their win.
MOM David Gordon