New signing Nathan Monson, who scored the third in the 3 - 2 home win, is tackled from behind in the first half of the match.
26 December 2012
EBAC Northern League Division 1
Goal scorers: SRCA: Kane, Shaw, Monson. South Shields: Ramsey, Wightman.
Please click here for photos from the match.
Eleven goals in two competitive matches between these two clubs in the last eight days and two very entertaining end to end games which were a credit to the Northern League.
For RCA six, very welcome but hard fought, points. For South Shields there must be a belief that they can climb off the bottom of the table.
RCA included Gary Shaw (winger) and Lewis Graham (Goalkeeper) for their debuts after signing the pair from Durham City.
Given the recent inclement weather the pitch looked in remarkably good condition.
RCA took advantage of the slope in the first half and were immediately on the attack with Monson forcing a throw in. The throw was taken, long, by McGuinness and Guerin-Lokonga flicked the ball into the path of Nick Kane, who scored with a flying header which gave Winter no chance.
Shields were in no mood to lie down and in Wightman they had a player who was willing to shoot on sight, in the 5 minute he picked up the ball on the edge off the box and fired in a shot which was blocked by Parker, the ball rebounded to Henderson who volleyed the ball goalward but this effort was thwarted by the lunge of McGuinness.
Wightman looked to be waging a one man war against the RCA defence as he had a second attempt at goal saved by Graham, the ball fell to Peter Kane but he fired over. Then Wightman had another shot saved at the second attempt by Graham.
RCA weathered this mini storm and came back fighting, Close found Monson on the left and his cross was only inches away from Guerin-Lokonga's outstretched leg.
A long ball from Winter found Ramsey who laid the ball into the path of Feasey who sent in a rasping shot which was saved by Graham.
In the 15 minute RCA looked to open up Shields' defence when Cutts through ball found Nick Kane and the winger sliped past a defender before firing in a low drive which was well saved by Winter.
With the game flowing from end to end you coiuldn't take your eye off it for a second, Smith sent a greta ball in to Ramsey who chested the ball down into the path of Peter Kane who hit the ball first time and it took a brilliant save from Graham to deny an equaliser.
Two minutes later and RCA were 2-0 up when Buzzoe crossed to the far post where Shaw found space to head back across the face of goal and into the net. a simple but effective goal.
RCA looked to take advantage of the Shields defence as thy reeled from this setback and when Close found Monson inside the box it looked odds on for 3-0 when the striker check back onto his right foot and blazed in a low shot which Winter was able to push round the post for a corner.
Winter was by far the busier keeper at this point as RCA tried to push home their advantage, Cutts cut in from the right before unleashing a shot which Winetr was pleased to tip over the bar. From the resulting corner the ball found Parker unmarked at the back post but he shot into the side netting.
A minute later and a long ball from Cutts was picked up by Shaw, he burst into the box. slipped the ball past Winter who made contact with the RCA player, however Shaw kept his feet but slid the ball wide of the upright. Had he gone down it would have been a definate penalty and Winter would have been lucky to stay on the pitch.
Shaw almost made amends a minute later when he drifted into space before thundering in a shot which went narrowly wide.
Riding their luck, back came Shields through Coe who clipped in a lovely ball to the far post where Peter Kane headed the ball back across goal to Feasey who fired the ball over the bar.
In the 40 minute in a replica of RCA's opening goal as Wightman sent a long throw into the box which was not well defended by RCA's defence and the ball fell to Ramsey who slotted the ball home past the despairing dive of Graham.
Shields started the second half emphatically, with the advantage of the slope they drove forward looking for the equaliser.
Coe sent in a cross which was met by Wightman but he slid his shot wide.
RCA were awarded a freekick 25 yards our which was taken by McGuinness and easily saved by Winter who turned defence inro attack with a quick kick out which caused problems when Peter Kane dispossessed Close before slipping the ball to Wightman who had his shot blocked by a great sliding tackle from Cutts.
Shileds equalised 2 minutes later when Winter once again launched a long ball into the heart of RCA's Defence, this time Wightman took advantage of the poor defending to blast home from 8 yards out.
RCA were now the team that were desperately defending and when Wightman curled in a terrific freekick it took a supurb save from Graham to keep the scores level. The resulting corner found Renshaw who headed downwards but Graham was in the right place to make a good save.
The pace of the game could not continue and it was no surprise when both teams seemed to run out of steam, RCA made substitutions on came Rivers, Shields seemed content to leave the team as it was.
Rivers first touch took him past two defenders and his cross was forced over for a corner. Guerin-Lokonga got a touch to the resulting corner as Winter punched the ball clear it fell to Monson who hit the ball first time into the ground, the ball bounced up, struck Pickering on the head and dropped into the net.
RCA picked up the pace in the closing minutes of the game and when Close found Nick Kane inside the box it looked all over bar the shouting but the RCA winger shot wide of the far post with Both Monson and Guerin-Lokonga in good positions.
As the game petered out Monson tested Winter with a dipping 25 yarder which the Shields keeper was forced to tip over the bar.
30 points on the board and a lot of positives from today's match. Going forward we look a threat again, Arris and Monson seem to have developed an understanding and Shaw looks very good , Cutts and Close look comfortable in midfield and the defence is starting to look settled although they do look vulnerable to long balls over the top.