6 November 2012
EBAC Northern League Division 1
Goal scorers: SRCA : Barton Spennymoor : Walton.
Once again changes needed to be made to the RCA line-up with Gilbert and Forster recalled into the defence, Cutts making his home debut in place of Close and Gibson recalled to play out wide left.
I think the majority of home supporters would have taken a draw at the start of this game as Neil and his backroom staff, continue to redevelope the squad. They would certainly have taken a draw after 50 minutes when 1-0 down and facing a second penalty kick.
Liken this to a Rocky film, on the ropes backs to the wall and then a piece of inspiration comes from nothing, the penalty missed, a hard tackle on the half way line and RCA found the spirit and determination which has been lacking in recent performances. Suddenly they looked like a team with something to prove.
Spennymoor started by far the better and could have been 2 up inside 5 minutes as Ex-RCA winger Walton raced into space to fire in two cracking shots, the first saved by Atkinson and the second hitting the side netting, to be fair Atkinson looked to have it covered.
5 minutes into the game and it was Walton again, collecting a through ball from Dodds he turned and fired in a low shot which again went into the side netting.
In the 15 minute Spennymoor were awarded a corner which was taken by Phillips who swung the ball towards the far post, Atkinson came to collect and in doing so collided with a Spennymoor player and landed awkwardly, after 4 minutes of treatment he got back to his feet and recommenced the game only to go down again within a minute unable to continue and was substituted, Craig Shields taking his place.
Moors’ were using the pace of Richardson to good effect and when Moore sent a long ball up field the attacker was first to the ball and his square pass was met by Walton who fired straight at Shields.
On the half hour another through ball this time from Graydon looked to be going out for a Goal kick but Richardson chasing after it was fouled by Parker and a penalty was awarded. Walton stepped up and fired in a low shot which Shields managed to save but Walton following up tapped home the rebound to make it 1-0 to the Moors’.
Spennymoor were dominating possession at this point and it was only a combination of determined tackling in midfield and good defending that kept the score at 1-0.
Phillips was starting to get some joy on the right and it was from one of his crosses that the next chance fell to Richardson but he fired well over the bar.
It wasn’t until the 39 minute that RCA had any sort of a chance when Richards won the ball and played in Cutts who then carried the ball forward before shooting over the bar from 20 yards out.
In the final minute of injury time Cutts again got into a good position and for the first time in the half Knight had to make a save as the shot from Cutts took a deflection, but the keeper made the save look easy.
The second half started in the same fashion as the first with Walton stealing in from the right wing and unleashing a wick shot which flew narrowly over the bar.
In the 50 minute another surging run from Richardson saw him get to the goal line and cross in, the ball struck the hand of an RCA defender and penalty number two was awarded. Inexplicably the penalty was taken by Phillips who thumped the ball against the post and Preston made a desperate clearance from the rebound.
RCA brought on Guerin-Lokonga for the ineffective Home-Jackson and straight away the forward caused problems when closing down Laws.
A long ball out of defence by Mason was chested down by Davison into the path of Richardson who’s first time shot went wide of the mark.
Within a minute Graydon picked up a loose ball in the centre of midfield and thundered in a shot which was well saved by Shields.
Graydon and Richards were involved in a very competitive battle in the centre of the park and it was no surprise when Richards was booked for a reckless challenge on the half way line followed by a booking for Graydon two minutes later for a similar tackle.
RCA seemed to take inspiration from the penalty miss and the competitiveness shown in mid field to at last start creating chances of their own, Guerin-Lokonga outpaced Dodds before sending the ball into the box for Barton but his shot was deflected over by Laws.
Fryatt picked the ball up on the half way line played a one two with Gilbert before sending a great cross field ball to Barton who just didn’t have the pace of Dodds and Moors were able to clear their lines.
This was easily RCA’s best spell of the game and in the 76 minute they equalised when Richards dispossessed Graydon and played the ball to Cutts who in turn found Fryatt on the right wing, he cut inside before sending in a beautiful cross which Barton managed to head home under enormous pressure from Laws.
Moors’ came back at RCA but never really troubled Shields and it was RCA who had the next chance as Guerin-Lokonga once again beat Groves before crossing to Barton at the far post, unfortunately he mis-hit his shot into the ground and it went wide.
Moors brought on Cogdon and he had an immediate effect with his direct running and pace, a half hearted appeal for yet another penalty was turned down by the referee when Richardson seemed to go down very easily.
In the final minute of the game another piece of magic by Cogdon saw him take on a number of defenders before sending in a cross shot which skimmed the bar and deep into injury time that same player fired in a shot which hit the post and rebounded to safety.
RCA did well to come away with a point and on the second half display few could argue that they didn’t deserved it. Moors’ should have been out of sight in the first half but a gritty determination saw RCA through to half time.