Tuesday, 30 October 2012
Durham County Challenge Cup - First Round
Goalscorers: SRCA: Home-Jackson, Parker, Guerin-Lokonga, Marshall (2) Billingham Town: Davies (3) Butterworth.
Seldom in my years of watching football can I remember nine absolutely wonderful goals in one game and all added to a great night of drama at Bedford Terrace.
If the EBAC Northern League game on Saturday is half as entertaining as this Durham Challenge Cup tie then we are in for another cracking match.
RCA welcomed back Jamie Davis after a long absence with a calf injury, they also included new signing Jordan Marshall and recalled Wayne Henderson and Craig Shields.
The manager also reshuffled his formation opting to play 4-3-3.
From the off RCA took the initiative as Fryatt conbined with Southern to set up a chance for Marshall, but the debutant snatched at his shot.
RCA were playing some good football with Davis looking comfortable in a central midfield role dictating the flow of play. Guerin-Lokonga had the best chance as a clever ball from Davis fell at the striker's feet and he took aim but blazed his effort wide.
Billingham were themselves looking dangerous on the counter attack with Davies posing a threat on the left and it was he who opened the scoring against the run of play. A freekick midway between the half way line and the 18 yard area was driven in to Davies who controlled it, backheeled it past the RCA defence before powering home an unstoppable shot past the helpless Shields.
RCA responded and only some desperate defending by Town kept them at bay.
A surging run by Guerin-Lokonga saw him past the last defender but forced wide, he cut the ball back to Southern who in turn slid the ball to Home-Jackson on the edge of the box and he curled in a superb shot which took a slight deflection on its way into the top corner of the net.
Within five minutes it was 2-1 to RCA a corner on the left was taken by Southern who drilled a perfectly flighted ball into the box and rising head and shoulders above everyone else, Parker was able to power the ball past the despairing dive of Molyneaux.
RCA were in almost total command now with Town's only outlet being Davies. Gibson and Butterworth were working hard with little joy as they were well marshalled by the RCA defence. On the few occassions that they did trouble the defenders the final ball was not quite right.
Town had Molyneaux to thank for the score remaining at 2-1 when he pulled of a great save from Davis and Cossavella tidied up as Guerin-Lokonga looked to pounce.
The second half started as the first half had finished with RCA pushing forward and Town on the back foot.
In the 50th minute a great move saw Southern send Marshall down the right wing. He went past the defender before showing great composure then crossing low into a crowded area where Guerin-Lokonga was first to the ball to shoot low into the bottom corner of the net.
There was more joy for RCA eight minutes later when Davis picked up the ball inside his own half, dribbled past three players before playing a great reverse ball to Marshall who took one touch before hooking the ball towards goal only for Cossavella to get across and block the shot for a corner. Southern took the corner which was headed clear, but only as far as Marshall who faced with a crowded box somehow managed ro drill the ball home with the keeper rooted to the spot.
4-1 up, game over you would have thought. Town hadn't read the script, a clearance from Molyneaux went straight to Davies who was fully 40 yards from goal and as the ball bounced in front of him he hit it and it thundered into the roof of the net past Shields to make it 4-2.
Back came RCA and a great run down the right by substitute Beasley saw his cross charged down by the hand of Perry and the referee pointed to the spot. In the auguments that ensued Perry was shown a second yellow card and a little unfairly dismissed.
Up stepped substitute Barton to fire in a weak shot which Molyneaux saved comfortably down to his right before sending Davies on his way again, the Town winger passed the ball to Butterworth who was fouled on the edge of the area. Up stepped Davies and completed his hat trick with a low shot past the wall and into the bottom corner of the net.
The game was on fire now as the Town tried desperately to create an equaliser and RCA were clinging on to a slender lead which only 10 minutes ago was looking comfortable.
With time running out another great through ball found Butterworth and the Town Striker volleyed the ball home to make it unbelievably 4-4 and extra time.
Extra time was played at a reasonably high tempo given the pace of the first 90 minutes but neither keeper was really tested and it looked like the 10 men of Billingham were going to take the game to penalties. Then in the 117th minute a corner taken by Southern was met by Preston, defended by O'Brien but the ball fell to Marshall on the penalty spot and he finished with a tremendous shot that gave Molyneux no chance.
An entertaining game if you weren't the RCA management team who must have been tearing their hair out.
Some players were given a chance to prove themselves tonight, some took the opportunity but others didn't when the going got tough the lungs gave in. Extra training apparently not.
Finally, when will we learn that the game isn't over until the final whistle? I have lost count how many times we have capitulated in the final ten minutes of games.
Positives from tonight: Davis looked good and hopefully will be available for Saturday, Marshall did ok and scored two goals.