Saturday, 22 March 2014
EBAC Northern League Division 1
Goalscorers: SRCA: Jim Wilson Guisborough : Roberts, Bythway.
How the fortunes of these two teams have changed in recent years. Two years ago it was RCA who were flying high in the First Division and now it is Guisborough Town who are enjoying a truly remarkable transformation.
RCA welcomed Philip Horsman back after his foot injury and Shaun McAvoy, a recent signing from Chester Le Street, started in the centre of midfield.
The Priorymen started well and as early as the third minute they had their first effort on goal a long ball from Bythway was collected by Gell on the left wing; he played the ball into Johnson but Guisborough's prolific goalscorer drilled his shot wide of the target.
At the other end some good work by Stanger saw him win the ball in the centre circle before distributing it forward to Barton; his knock on fell into the path of McAvoy who forced a good save from Coddington.
Guisborough continued to press forward and were playing some controlled football out of defence but they were finding it difficult to get the ball to their minfielders as Stanger and McAvoy looked to dominate the middle of the park.
Guisborough, somewhat fortuitously, took the lead in the 23rd minute when a Horsman slip allowed Risborough into the box where he was fouled and the Referee pointed to the spot. Up stepped Roberts to hammer the ball into the net from the penalty spot.
RCA were almost level five minutes later when a freekick just outside the area was taken by Patton who floated the ball to the far post where Preston rose to head back toward goal forcing Coddington to tip the ball over the bar.
Guisborough were under pressure a minute later giving away another freekick 25 yards out. This time Stanger took the kick quickly to McAvoy who turned and fired in a low shot which Coddington saved at the foot of the post.
In the 33rd minute the Priorymen went 2-0 up, a corner was passed out to Bythway about 30 yards out and he fired in a stunning shot which left the RCA defence rooted to the spot as it rocketed into the net.
It could have been worse a minute later when Carling sent Roberts away but the striker, under pressure from Horsman, fired wide.
RCA came back and yet another freekick caused problem for the home defence, Stanger's freekick was headed backwards by Bishop and Jim Wilson could only head into the side netting with Bythway in close attendance.
Two minutes from half time Patton crossed in a corner which was met by Barton, his header was cleared off the line by Oldfield and in the ensuing goalmouth scramble both Carling and Bishop blocked shots before the ball was cleared.
The second half started with RCA on top, forcing Guisborough to defend in numbers.
In the 56th minute they were rewarded when a freekick, taken by Carmichael, was allowed to run through to Wilson who was ghosting in at the far post and the RCA winger got to the ball first to divert it past the keeper and into the net.
This gave RCA the boost that they needed and it took some desperate defending to stop Hughes from getting onto the score sheet when he slipped past two defender inside the penalty area only to see his shot hit Carling and rebound to safety.
Guisborough were still dangerous on the counter and Jury had to be at his very best to intercept the ball after Bythway had found Gell in acres of space the ball bounced away from the Guisborough player and Jury was able to nip in and clear.
In the 70th minute RCA had a penalty appeal turned down when Barton looked to be fouled by Bythway as he tried to get a header on target.
With time running out RCA threw caution to the wind pushing players forward in an effort to get the equaliser. A shot from Hughes struck Barton and went wide for a goal kick.
Guisborough tried to take advantage of RCA over commitment to attack and almost scored again when Johnson picked up a loose ball before firing in a shot which Carmichael did well to save and Wray was on hand to clear up.
RCA had the lion's share of the game for the last 10 minutes without testing the Guisborough keeper and the home team held on to the end.
This was avery spirited display from the whole RCA team against a Guisborough team who are flying high in the league. If we can produce performances like that from now until the end of the seasonthen we will be ok.
We certainly deserved something out of this game.