Northern League Division 1
Tuesday, 4 September 2012
After a wait of two weeks without a fixture SCRA travelled to Hillheads to play a rejuvenated Whitley Bay team.
With Atkinson and Close unavailable, holiday and suspension respectively the management team brought in the experienced Shields and gave a starting debut to youngster Jamie Davis. James Oates returned from holiday and took the place of Salim.
SRCA started with an unfamiliar 5-3-2 formation in the expectation of unsettling a very familiar Whitley Bay team.
The old adage of a game of two halves was represented here tonight SRCA far superior in the first half were totally outclassed in the second.
SRCA were first into their stride as they took the game to Whitley Bay, as early as the 3rd minute Hudson floated in a freekick which was met by Jardine who sent the ball across the six yard box to Guerin-Lokonga but Fawcett managed to get afoot on the ball and force it for a corner.
After this opening flurry both sides settled down with both sets of defenders looking quite comfortable.
It was not until the 14 minute that SRCA threatened again this time Jones sent in a ball to Jardine, the striker expertly controlled the ball before slipping it through to Guerin-Lokonga but Kyle was alert to the danger and saved at the feet of the RCA Forward.
Kyle kick out found Robinson on the right to set up Whitley Bay’s first attack of the game, swinging in a cross behind the RCA defence which flew across the face of goal with Fawcett unable to get a touch on the ball.
SRCA were looking the better side and deservedly took the lead after a spell of pressure which saw Jardine and Davis going close. A cross from Jones was tipped away by Hayes but fell to Hudson who quickly played in Gordon who sent in a curling shot which McFarlane scooped into his own net whilst trying to clear.
Whitley were finding it difficult to penetrate a well organised RCA defence with Preston and McGuinness marshalling Chow and Kerr to great effect.
The only half chance of note for Whitley Bay was when Fawcett and Robinson combined and Preston was forced to head over for a corner.
The corner was cleared towards the half way line and Jones and McFarlane collided in a 50-50 tackle with Jones left prone on the ground.
A lengthy delay followed as the physio treated Jones who had suffered a nasty gash to the knee and was unable to continue.
With RCA forced to reshape Whitley Bay took full advantage and deep into added time they drew level when Lee Kerr, unchallenged on the left played a long ball into the box, the RCA defence did not deal with it and it fell to Fawcett who fired in a tremendous shot into the far corner.
SRCA, not for the first time against the Bay, had dominated without really posing a threat to the opposition keeper.
What Chandler said to the players at half time certainly worked as they upped the work-rate and looked an entirely different team.
Kerr seemed to move to a more defensive role and from there was dominating, spreading the ball all over the park.
A shot from Paul Chow was blocked by Shields and the ball sprang back towards Chow, who flicked the ball to Robinson but his effort was cleared off the lone by McGuinness.
Kerr and Chow combined twice more in as many minutes but the RCA defence was standing firm against the onslaught.
A Freekick from Reid was flicked over the bar by Shields before a loud appeal for a penalty was turned down when Fawcett looked to be blocked as he went for a ball inside the box.
For all their second half dominance it was RCA who nearly snatched a late winner when a long ball from McGuinness found Davis who flicked the ball forward for Jardine who fired well over the bar. RCA probably deserved a point for their first half display and some resilient defending in the second half. Having not played for two weeks didn’t help. Whitley Bay showed that they are still a threat on the break and will be there or thereabouts at the end of the season.