Saturday, 13 September 2014
EBAC Northern League Division 1
Goalscorers: SRCA: Wray , Guisborough Town: Hume (3), Marron.
The meeting between these two clubs just over a week ago produced a 1 - 1 draw and a similar result today would have been welcomed by the RCA faithful.
Team news was that Captain Gary Wood was unavailable due to family committments, new signing and ex Guisborough player Lee Bythway was working and Tony Coe was injured, into the team came Wray, Hughes and Lewis Wood.
As football games go the first 45 minutes was probably the worst I have witnessed in the last 5 years, after an initial opening burst by Guisborough in the first minute which saw Carmichael make a great double save first from Risborough's rasping shot and then from the rebound which McSweeney hit low struck the keepers outstretched foot and went over the bar. the resulting corner saw Mulligan's overhead kick sail over the bar.
In the 15 minute a surging run from Hughes saw his cross take a double deflection off two Town defenders before Liversedge somehow managed to claw the ball away to stop RCA taking the lead.
The rest of the half was a really scrappy affair, with a number of poor challenges being made by both teams the game had no flow to it and the referee's whistle seemed to follow every pass.
A particularly unsavoury challenge from Gell on Wood saw a mass confrontation as the Town player tried to manhandle Wood to his feet. When calm was restored Barton and Gell were both caution by the the referee.
In the final minute of the half RCA were awarded a corner which Jury took, sending the ball to the back post where Wilson rose to head inches wide.
0-0 at half time.
Within 2 minutes of the restart Guisborough were reduced to 10 men when Gell made another poor challenge on Wood and received a second yellow.
RCA should have taken advantage of the man advantage but time and again they were stopped by a very solid Town defence.
in the 55 minute Martin received the ball on the right ran 40 yards down the right wing before crossing to teh edge of the box where Marron was unmarked and he stroked the ball past Carmichael.
RCA almost got a goal back when Hughes dribbled into the box before shooting and only a supurb diving save from Liversedge denied the RCA striker. thr resulting corner by Price was headed over the bar by Barton.
In the 67 minutes Barton received his second yellow card of the game after a collision with Marron.
With both teams down to 10 men the game, like the first have became very scappy.
In the 72 minute Guisborough doubled their lead when Risbrough broke forward at pace up the left wing, cut inside befoer squaring the ball to Hume who flicked it past Carmichael and into the net.
3 minutes later and it was all over bar the shouting when Carmichael came rushing out of his area collided with Wray, the ball spun into the path of Hume who turned and lobbed the ball into the net from 25 yards out.
RCA gave themselves a lifeline in the 78 minute when Wray headed home a freekick from Price his looping header giving Liversedge no chance.
Carmichael was in obvious discomfort and had to be substituted, the second time in the two meetings between the two teams
in the 85 minute McWillams was tripped and Hume took responsibility for the kick blasting iyt straight down the middle to score his hat-trick and make the final score 4 - 1.
This was below par performance from RCA who looked to be holding their own in a scrappy game, then in a 15 minute period, lost concentration and conceded quick goals. Tactically we were second best with so many players on the left which gave their No 3, McWilliams, acre's of space and put Jury under pressure from three opposition players throughout the game.
Next game is against Birtley Town in the Durham Challenge cup.