18 December 2012
EBAC Northern League Division 1
Goalscorers: SRCA: Guerin-Lokonga (2), Monson, OG. South Shields: Graham, Coe.
Please click here for the Sky Tyne and Wear coverage.
Preparation for this game was considerable hampered an hour before kick off with the announcement that first choice keeper Neal Atkinson had hung up his gloves and second choice keeper Craig Shields was still feeling the effects of a hand injury so into the cauldron stepped Neal Bussey for his second appearance for RCA.
Just when we thought we had the team sorted we received notice from Nick Gibson that his car had broken down on the A1. Jamie Fryatt stepped in to replace him.
The management team also gave a debut to Nathan Monson a recent signing from Burscough Athletic.
The Filtrona Park pitch was, to say the least, wet. Deemed playable by the match officials, the game kicked off in dramatic style with South Shields forcing RCA onto the back foot and their reward was a stunning fourth minute opening goal.
Wightman's shot was deflected for a corner which Coe took short to Smith who crossed into the box, the ball was headed away by McGuinness and fell to Graham 35 yards out from goal, he controlled the ball before sending in a thunderous right foot shot, which rocketed into the net past a bewildered RCA defence.
It could have been worse three minutes later when a cross field ball from Feasey found Wightman in space but Bussey pulled off a great save from the low shot.
RCA's only response at this time was a surging run from McGuinness which ended with a long range effort flying over the bar.
Disaster struck in the 14th minute when Henderson found Coe with a superb 40 yard pass and the Shields winger didn't need a second chance, running onto the ball and volleying the ball into the net past a helpless Bussey.
Shields were well on top at this point and RCA were having to dig deep just to stay in the game and only some poor finishing from the home side and some desperate defending kept the score at 2-0. The passion and commitment which had been lacking on Saturday was slowly returning and as the half wore on RCA started to create chances.
Close found Fryatt wide on th eright and his low cross into the box was met by Monson who sidefooted the ball inches wide of the upright.
Burnicle was guilty of a glaring miss when Wightman set him up, but the Striker lashed the ball well wide when in a goalscoring position.
Shields were to rue this miss as the ball was sent down to the other end and Guerin-Lokonga looked to have escaped his marker before being tackled from behind. Cutts took the freekick which Winter was forced to punch away under pressure.
RCA got a life line a minute later as they started to get a hold of the game. Fryatt received the ball from McGuinness, beat a defender and sent in a tantilising cross over Winter and towards the back post where Renshaw, under pressure from both Preston and Monson, headed into his own goal.
Shields tried to respond to this setback and Bussey was the next keeper in action as he dived full leangth to save from Burnicle.
RCA were in the ascendancy and as the half closed they were the team that were doing most of the attacking and in the 44th minute a great move which saw Close win the ball in midfield before playing it to Cutts who slipped the ball wide to Kane, the winger in one movement beat the defender and crossed into the box straight into the path of Monson who made no mistake from eight yards out.
There was still time in this action packed first half for Renshaw to head narrowly over from a Coe corner.
RCA started the second half in positive mood and substitute Rivers, on for Fryatt, picked up a pass from Cutts before cutting inside and unleashing a beautiful curling shot which, although dipping, cleared the bar by inches.
In the 64th minute RCA took the lead when Cutts played the ball to Monson. His crosss-cum shot rebounded off the far post into the path of Rivers who tried to steer the ball home but it was deflected across the goal line and Guerin-Lokonga was on hand to stab home from close range.
From the kick off Shields responded and it needed a good save from Bussey to deny Wightman.
Guerin-Lokonga was causing Shields defender all sorts of problems as he continued to harrass them on the ball and forcing them into mistakes. Both Rivers and Monson benefitted from his endeavours, but on both occassions Winter was equal to their efforts on goal.
RCA made sure of all three points when Guerin-Lokanga forced a corner on the right. Kane sent the kick into the heart of the six yard box and it fell to Guerin-Lokanga who got his foot to the ball ahead of two defenders and the ball flew into the net.
Shields were in disarray and RCA were rampant as the game progreesed. Kane had a good opportunity to extend RCA's lead, but fired straight at Winter.
At the other end Coe sent a header well over from a corner and Wightman, with probably Shields best chance of the half, fired wide when clear of the RCA defence.
The game ended in very boggy conditions and both teams very tired.
If anyone could have predicted this score after 25 minutes they would have received amazing odds off Bet-Butler.
However credit when it is due, RCA showed that they do have passion and they can play a bit as well. They need to take this performance forward to Team Northumbria on Saturday and see if we can record back to back wins.