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Arngrove Northern League Division 2
Saturday, 15 March 2008
Although a big crowd turn out was expected at Meadow Park on Saturday for this crunch match, kick off approached with only steady numbers arriving through the turnstiles. All could feel the tension however, as it was one of those games that neither side wanted to lose.
SRCA winning the toss opted to kick up the slope with a slight wind facing them. Whickham, hoping to take the slight conditions advantage, were quick out of the stalls and in the early exchanges their centre forward Hay and left-winger Fairless were showing good strength and pace. Paul Stout, making his debut at right back for SRCA, was certainly involved quickly as a lot of the play was coming down the left and he had to make a couple of last ditch tackles. On seven minutes the first time effort from Whickham’s central midfielder King was extremely unlucky, when the ball played quickly to his feet was curled with his left foot towards goal, with the keeper beaten the ball just missed the post, hugging the outside of the net.
Tackles were fast, occasionally furious, as the referee was called into action in quick succession and the visiting supporters found voice. RCA were restricted to playing long balls to Owens on the right- wing, which resulted in the winning of consecutive corners, Jennings heading goalwards on 15 minutes, but the Whickham defence was not to be breached.
Whickham shouted claims for a penalty on 25 minutes, but the referee was having none of it after the linesman was in good viewpoint. After a messy period of play, with both defences on top, the referee stopped the game on the half hour to have words with the Whickham manager who was objecting to many decisions made by the officials, good and bad. Whickham forced consecutive corners again from the left, which appeared to be their main threat.
David Wells, making his debut on the left for RCA, was now involved a lot in our attacking play and after exchanging passes with Ash Davis he beat the offside trap, the keeper was rushing out quickly as he lobbed, but the covering defender made a goal-line clearance – the best chance of the match so far!
From 40 minutes onwards there was action in both goalmouths, good play between Richards and Jennings ended up with Newton getting the ball, but from 22 yards he fired into the keeper’s hands. Whickham broke on 44 minutes when a defensive mix up nearly allowed the Whickham centre forward Hay through. The game was certainly in full life now, but the referee blew for half time: 0-0 with Whickham shading overall forward play.
The second half started similarly to the first, with Whickham again looking to score the opener and on 49 minutes a dangerous cross was fired in from the right, which was cleared but resulted in a Ryhope defender colliding with Minnis in the RCA goal. Anxious glances all round – he was down for approximately five minutes – and no second keeper was on the bench. Fortunately he got up to restart. The play was stretched from end to end with half chances being created and corners at both ends.
Goal machine Andy Jennings rounds the Whickham keeper to open the scoring for
RCA
In the 65th minute came the key moment of the game when Whickham again from the left cut into the RCA penalty box, a weak shot was not dealt with resulting in the ball dropping on the six yard box and when it looked easier to score a last ditch tackle saved the day. The ball fell to left full back, Davis, who wasted no time in getting the ball to Owens who quickly got the ball through to Jennings; he burst through, side stepped the keeper and fired home gleefully with his left foot. 1 –0 and game on.
Livewire Lee Owens takes the other way around the keeper to score RCA's second
and to put us ahead again
Whickham responded quickly after moving the ball up the left and Fairless ran strongly into the box when Stout made a challenge from behind: a clear penalty. King fired home to level the scores.
Gary Shields, who had been brought on a substitute for Newton, was causing many problems for the visitors as the game swung RCA’s way. On 76 minutes Wells and Davis combined again with the ball fired through to Owens who, from the right, pushed the ball wide of the keeper then fired home to make it 2-1. The game was totally going our way now as Shields also got into the same position a few minutes later, but when he hit a good shot from the right, the ball was glanced onto the post by the keeper.
Marskman Gary Shields makes the game safe for RCA from the penalty spot
As Whickham gambled for the equaliser, RCA broke again down the right. After some swift passes the ball was fed to Jennings who beat the offside trap and when moving the ball to his left to hit home he was upended on 93 minutes. Gary Shields picked the ball up for the penalty and made no mistake. 3 – 1, game over and a massive three points for the Red and Whites.