New signing Jordan Marshall tries to find a way past the Ashington skipper in the first half of the match.
10 November 2012
Ebac Northern League Division 1
Goalscorers: SRCA : None. Ashington FC: Walton, Taylor (2), O'Dea, Antony, Johnson.
Please cick here for photos from the match.
In this prelude to the FA Vase match next week RCA were forced into making five changes to the team that played so well against Spennymoor on Tuesday.
Jamie Fryatt was getting married and in attendance was Forster, Gilbert was missing, also attending a wedding, Richards suspended and Gibson injured were also unavailable , so in came Henderson, Beasley, Davis, Marshall and Southern.
RCA suffered their worst defeat under manager Neil Hixon at Meadow Park this afternoon, it was also in Neil's opinion the worst performance from an RCA team in five years. If it hadn't been for Atkinson then it could so easily have been double figures.
Ashington dominated from start to finish and RCA could not match their passing and movement.
Ashington started the game in emphatic style, passing the ball and causing RCA all sorts of problems in the opening five minutes, their passing and movement was frightening and RCA were left chasing shadows.
The opening goal after seven minutes was typical of the lack of concentration that was to dog RCA for the rest of the afternoon. A quick throw in was picked up by Walton, unmarked on the edge of the box and he was allowed space to place the ball into the bottom corner of the net.
Two minutes later it got even worse for RCA when a cross into the box was dropped by Atkinson, who looked to have been fouled, he was still protesting to the referee when Taylor picked up the loose ball and fired home.
It was one way traffic, downhill and with the wind, for Ashington as their made their superiority tell with wave after wave of attacks. In the 15th minute a shot from O’Dea went narrowly wide with the RCA defence just watching as he fired in from 25 yards.
In the 22nd minute Atkinson was forced into the save of the season when from eight yards out Taylor connected with a volley which was destined for the top corner of the net, but somehow Atkinson not only got a hand to it he had enough strength to take the ball clear of the goal and for a corner.
RCA were trying desperately to get a foothold into the game and Barton was working hard up front just to get a touch of the ball, he did have one effort on goal which was easily saved by Dryden.
Back came Ashington and a long ball by Lough was laid off by Walton into the path of O’Dea who fired in a low shot which was once again equalled by a brilliant save from Atkinson low down to his right turning the ball round the post for a corner.
Un the 29th minute another corner to Ashington was swung towards the near post and O’Dea, unmarked, met the ball superbly to flick in a header which gave Atkinson no chance.
A minute later and it was 4-0 as RCA capitulated completely and allowed Antony enough time and space to score and five minutes later a mistake by Beasley as the last man let in Johnson who rounded the keeper to fire into an empty net.
RCA huffed and puffed to no avail as Ashington seemed to take their foot off the pedal, but even given time and space on the ball they were finding it hard to string two passes together.
In the last minute of the first half Atkinson was forced to make another miraculous save again from Taylor who took one look at goal from 25 yards out and let rip, Atkinson in the right position made the save palming the ball over the bar.
Guerin-Lokonga, Halliday and Gary Shields replaced Marshall, Southern and Beasley in an attempt to halt the Ashington onslaught and in the opening minute of the second half it looked to have paid dividends when Guerin-Lokonga picked up the ball and ran at the heart of the Ashington defence before squaring the ball to Barton who slipped just before the ball came to him and Antony cleared.
Ashington’s response was to attack down the right with Johnson who passed to Taylor who fired wide.
RCA looking a little more threatening with Shields on the left, created the next opening when Guerin-Lokonga and Home-Jackson combined to set up Cutts but the midfielders shot was weak and easily cleared by Atkin.
In the 53rd minute the game was over as a competitive match as James Taylor picked up the ball, gave it to Johnson and his perfect cross was met at the far post by Glen Taylor and his looping header sailed into the net.
Home-Jackson produced a rare glimpse of his ability when he clipped in a shot but it went well wide of the upright.
For the first time in the game RCA were actually putting some pressure on the visitors goal and a good move between Shields and Barton, which saw the latter cross the ball into the box and it was only a fingertip save from Dryden that deflected the ball away from a Guerin-Lokonga certain goal.
It was all to little to late for RCA and although they were starting to get better they never really created anything that troubled the keeper.
In the 70th minute a cross was driven in by Dugdale, saved by the feet of Atkinson and the ball spun into the path of Walton who headed over the bar.
The last 20 minutes were played out in almost a training exercise as both teams seemed resigned to the scoreline. In the last minute a blistering shot by Halliday was probably worthy of a goal but it was two yards wide of the goal.
All in all a bad day at the office and time over the next few days to reflect on the forthcoming cup games. It has to be said that the players who came in today did not do themselves justice and will need to improve dramatically.