Tuesday, 22 October 2013
EBAC Northern League Division 1
Goalscorers: SRCA, Morris, Wray, Home-Jackson: Team North: None.
After the disappointment of Saturday's exit from the FA Vase RCA were back in League action tonight against Team Northumbria who they beat in the last round of the Vase.
The starting line up saw the return of Wilson and Horsman with Fryatt retaining the outside right berth after his impressive introduction on Saturday. Morris partnered Patton up front.
RCA's early possession almost paid dividends in the 2 minute when Jury played a perfect ball into the path of Fryatt, the winger cut inside before hitting a shot which struck the outside of the post.
Two minutes later and RCA were on the attack again this time it was a Wilson pass to Patton which split the Team North defence wide open and when Patton moved the ball across to Morris it looked certain the the striker would score but Hoyle threw himself across the line of the shot and the ball rebounded to safety.
Team North picked themselves up after this early pressure and when Jennison found Glen-Ravenhill from a hasty clearance the forward sent in a great cross toward Ingram and it took some great defending by Jury to clear the danger.
That was the last real pressure from Team North as RCA unleashed a succession of attacks down the right, Fryatt was in the thick of most attacks and in the 11 minute he cut inside before curling a shot inches wide of the far post.
Within minutes the ball was back in the Team North box this time the ball was crossed in by Wilson and as it bounced about in the penalty area Patton reacted with an overhead kick which went just the wrong side of the upright.
A lovely move by RCA saw Fryatt cross the ball in to Baynes who squared the ball to Patton who fired in a low shot which Jennison did really well to hold on to.
The quick thinking of Wilson almost broke the deadlock in the 38 minute taking a freekick to Baynes who crossed to Morris who slipped the ball across to the advancing Wilson but his shot was blocked by Lumsden.
Fryatt was once again causing mayhem down the right and was almost unplayable at times. A dribble and pull back resulted in him being fouled, from the freekick Wilson slipped the ball to Brown who, from an acute angle chipped the ball over both the goalkeeper and the bar.
Minutes later and with the half coming to a close Fryatt once again drifted past his marker got to the by-line before cutting the ball back for Morris who could only watch as his shot flew over the bar. The last action of the half saw Wilson send in another freekick which Patton headed over.
Team North, with the advantage of the slope, started the second half with a bit more purpose and when they were awarded a freekick on the right it was taken by McNamara who sent in a wickedly curling cross which Wray did well to head away.
RCA came back with a freekick of there own, this time Wilson clipped the ball toward the far post where Preston could only direct his header oner the bar.
The game was becoming scrappy and dis-jointed and the pitch was not helping as it started to cut up.
In the 53 minute, the breakthrough came for RCA and it was that man Fryatt who created the goal, cutting across the 18 yard box he went past two defenders before sending in a reverse pass to Morris who hit a low shot past the outstretched arm of Jennison and into the net.
RCA lifted their game and should have gone further ahead when a cross in by Wilson was met by Brown but he tried to glance his header in and missed the target.
Team North were trying to push forward but in doing so were leaving gaps in their defence and on the hour mark RCA extended their lead Fryatt won a corner which was taken by Wilson and headed powerefully home by Wray.
Fryatt almost set up Jury, as the two RCA players created havoc down the right, he slipped the ball to his captain inside the box unfortunately the final shot went wide of the post.
RCA were in almost total control as they restricted Team North to long balls forward which Wray and Preston mopped up, when the ball did get past them the ever reliable Craig Shields was on hand.
Team North almost made it interesting in the last 5 minutes when a cross into the box from Ingram was met by Glen-Ravenhill but he could only fire over the bar from 10 yards out.
In the last minute, with Team North pushing forward a clearance from Jury found Patton on the right wing, unselfishly he crossed the ball into the middle of the park to the unmarked Home-Jackson who curled in an unstoppable shot which struck the inside of the post before settling in the net.
This was much better team performance than of late and by far the best defensive display this season.
RCA thoroughly deserved this victory, dominating from start to finish. There was not a poor performance by any player in a red shirt. We now no what it takes to win a game and if we maintain this level of performance in future games we will be ok.