Tuesday, 7 October 2014
EBAC Northern League Division 1
Goalscorers: SRCA: Hughes, Barton. West: Fowler, Moffatt
SRCA welcomed tabletopping West Auckland to Meadow Park for this top versus bottom Ebac Northern League Division 1 encounter.
With the injury worries looking to have inproved in the last 48 hours the management team had almost a full squad to choose from. Back into the team came Carmichael, Gary Wood, Charlton and Barton. They replaced Carl Morris, Wray, McNab and Wilson in an attacking line up. Tony Coe, initially in the starting 11 pulled up during the warm up and was unable to take part.
The game started well for the home team as they looked to take advantage of the slope, in the opening minute Hughes pounced on the ball after some indecisiveness in Wests defence and it took a good block by Gibson to stop the RCA striker.
In the fifth minute of the game RCA were awarded their first corner when Hughes again slipped past two challenges before Gibson deflected his shot wide, The corner was won by Hall who headed away to Close, he sent the ball forward to Larkin who fired over from 20 yards out.
This was to be the pattern of the half as RCA pushed forward and West were happy to counter attack.
RCA took the lead in the 20th minute when Hughes beat the offside trap before lobbing the ball over the head of Lowson from 20 yards, his first goal of the season and well deserved.
A minute later it could have been 2-0 as RCA swept forward again, a ball to the edge of the box by Gary Wood was chested into the path of Jury who drove in a low shot which Lowson did well to stop from creeping into the bottom corner.
The game was swinging from end to end without any real chances being created until in the 40 minute Fowler set up Briggs on the edge of the box and the ex-RCA player stuck a sweet shot inches wide of the upright.
West started the second half the better and in the 47 minute it took a great save by Carmichael to deny Larkin from three yards out after he connected with a Briggs corner.
Three minutes later and Galpin stabbed the ball forward to Larkin who moved into space before smashing a terrific thunderbolt of shot from 25 yards out which Carmichael did tremndously well to tip over the bar.
RCA held on until the hour mark, when West equalised, Briggs picking up a pass from Close played a 40 yard crossfield ball to the feet of Fowler and he volleyed an unstoppable shot past Carmichael.
RCA, although disappointed to concede struck back almost immediately whe Hughes picked up a ball from Lewis Wood to slot home only to be ruled offside.
The home fans didn't have to wait long for their team to regain the lead, again it was that man Hughes causing the problems this time his cross into the box was heading for Callen but Hall fouled the RCA winger and the referee had no heistation in pointing to the spot. Barton smashed the penalty home to restore RCA lead.
West were in disarray at the back and RCA should have taken advantage of this as Gary Wood won the ball in midfield played it into the path of Hughes who slipped past the keeper and with the goal at his mercy fired the ball straight at the outstretched leg of Hall.
As the game entered it final five minutes West were awarded a freekick 25 yards out for a very dubious foul on Close. Pattison took the kick, floating it to th eback post where Moffatt, who had only been on the pitch for a matter of minutes, Headed home from a yard out.
West then almost took the lead deep into injury time when Briggs had a shot blocked by Brown then Galpin had a curling shot well saved by Carmichael.
RCA survived a frantic end to the game as West poured forward in numbers, there was even a penalty appeal turned down when a freekick appeared to strike a defender on the arm, but in the end they deserved the point for a very gutsy performance.
We have set the bench mark for the rest of the season now and need to maintain this level in all games.
This season is going to be tough every team seems capable of taking points from each other and there are no runaway leaders or whipping boys at the moment.