Scorer and provider: RCA forward Aristote Guerin-Lokonga resists the Marske defence to lay the ball off for RCA's second goal scored by Jamie Davis in the first minute of the second half of the 3 - 1 away win for RCA on Saturday, 15 September.
Northern League Division 1
Saturday, 15 September 2012
Please click here for photos from the match.
Goalscorers: RCA: Guerin-Lokonga, Davis, Jardine. Marske: Onions.
RCA got back to winning ways with a comprehensive victory over Marske United. This performance showed that we can dominate a game and get a good victory. The second half was very reminiscent of last season's displays.
The only change to the team from the mid week defeat at the hands of West Auckland was to bring in Guerin-Lokonga for the injured Appleby.
The match started at quite a high tempo with both teams looking to attack but both defences looking solid. The opening 10 minutes saw the game evenly balanced with little to show in the way of chances.
A quick interchange of play between Oates and Shields saw the first real attack of any significance develop as Oates raced into space before trying to cut the ball back to Guerin-Lokonga or Barton, both of whom had taken up great positions, Oates cross lacked power and Allison saved at the feet of Guerin-Lokonga.
Marske hit back and 3 minutes later a long ball from Carling found Lambert who found space on the wing before squaring the ball to Edwards but his shot was blocked Paxton.
In the 18 minute a well taken freekick from Hudson caused panic in the Marske defence and Allison let the ball slip through his hands and run for a corner. The corner was taken by Hudson and Hunter headed towards his own goal but the ball cannoned off McGuinness and was cleared by Carling.
The pressure was being applied by RCA and Marske were being forced back deep into their own half.
It was no real surprise When RCA took the lead, Davis picked up a loose clearance on the edge of the 18 yard box and clipped in a wonderfully weighted cross onto the head Guerin-Lokonga the ball struck the post and luckily rebounded back to the RCA forward who made no mistake from 3 yards out.
A minute later and Guerin-Lokonga skipped past Marron before crossing onto the head of Davis but Grier got in a block to deny RCA a 2-0 lead.
Marske looked to have overcome RCA’s pressure and came back with some good football, keeping possession and in Lambert they had a great outlet when they were in trouble.
On the half hour McGuinness fired over from a free kick.
Marske were now starting to get back into the game an Edwards through ball almost caught the RCA defence napping but Hall was able to block the shot of Onions.
A minute later and RCA Almost conceded a bizarre goal, the ball was swung over from the right by Lambert and looked to have been dealt with as the Hall headed away towards Oates, his first time attempt to clear the ball was sliced high into the box but McGill fired well over the bar.
RCA tried to pick up the tempo again and a surging run by Davis saw the midfielder fir over from 25 yards.
As the half came to a finish it was Marske who were making the running, a corner from Charlton was fired over the bar by Lambert and Edwards shot straight at Atkinson.
In the final minute of the half Hall made a rash challenge on Callantine, from the resulting free kick the ball was cleared only as far as Onions who made no mistake from 12 yards out.
The start of the second half saw RCA taking the initiative and within 2 minutes of the restart they had regained the lead. A brilliantly constructed move which saw, Close move the ball to Barton who held it up before playing in Guerin-Lokonga he quickly slid the ball to the advancing Davis who curled the ball past Allison and into the net.
RCA were well on top at this point and could have scored on a number of occasions, Barton had a shot saved then Guerin-Lokonga fired straight at Allinson when in a good position.
Marske’s only response was a shot from Lambert which went narrowly wide.
RCA took almost complete control, in the 65th minute a cross from Shields was headed into the arms of Allison then a cross into the box found Hudson but his shot was blocked by Carling.
Within a minute RCA were 3 -1 up when Shields sent in a wicked cross which evaded everyone, Barton picked up the loose ball and sent in a lovely cross which Allison dropped under pressure from Davis and substitute Jardine was on hand to blast home.
Both teams had chances to score as the game wore on, probably the best fell to Jardine one on one with Allison and the Marske keeper won the battle.
All in all a very good game if you were an RCA supporter. The control and energy shown in this game especially the second half were the best seen this season.