Midfielder James Armstrong in possession in the first half of the match.
Saturday, 22 November 2014
FA Vase 2nd Round
Goalscorers: SRCA: None North Shields: Bainbridge (3)
Please click here for some photos from the match.
After beating Handsworth Parramore in the first round of the Vase RCA were handed the difficult task of overcoming a very slick North Shields team in the second round. The meeting between the two teams in the league ended 3-0 to North Shields with three clinical second half finishes.
RCA gave a debut to recent signing Stephen Bogie, Carl Morris took over in goal for Carmichael who was on holiday, Brown returned to the centre of midfield, Lewis Wood returning after injury played wide right and Barton returned up front. Both Charlton and Davis were cup tied. So it was a much changed team who took to the park for this important cup match.
The pitch had taken a battering with the amount of rain that had fallen in the last 48 hours and it was only the efforts of the groundstaff on the day that made it playable.
The game itself started rather tamely, not, the first real challenge of the game earning a yellow card for Luke Richardson after a rash challenge on Luccock, from the freekick Ben Richardson crossed to Hughes who headed over the bar.
As the game settled it was RCA who looked to attack up th eslope and Shields were content to counter attack. A good move between Callen and Armstrong was stopped by Parker who played a long ball forward to Denver Morris who forced a save from Carl Morris, the ball was only cleared as far as Denver Morris and hid deft chip was tipped over the bar by the RCA keeper.
RCA continued to probe the Shields defence and when Brown sent a ball forward Bogie laid it off for Callen but his effort was blocked by Hughes.
Two minutes later a RCA were back on the attack, Armstrong played in Bogie and he curled a beautiful shot past the dive of Bannon but unfortunately it hit the upright and rebounded to safety.
The pressure was mounting and in the 22nd minute Armstrong once again picked out a lovely pass to Callen but he blazed his shot well wide.
In the 25th minute a ball from Brown found Callen who slipped the ball into the path of Armstrong and he fired in a great drive which Bannon did really well to turn away for a corner.
Having withstood the pressure Shields started to make their stamina tell and as the game wore on it was obvious that they looked sharper and fitter than RCA.
In the 35th minute a Luccock cross from the left was headed wide by Elliott, a through ball from Ben Richardson fell to Bainbridge and he blasted the ball well wide when in a good position.
Denver Morris then picked up a loose ball in the centre circle played the ball wide to Luccock who chipped the ball into the box where Carl Morris had to make a save at the second attempt with Bainbridge in close attendance.
The final flurry of the half was RCA's as Bogie and Barton combined and the ball finally fell to Bogie who drove a low ball goalwards but Parker blocked the shot, Barton picked up the rebound but his effort was also blocked this time by Hughes.
The second half started well for RCA as they went on the attack down the slope, however it all fell apart in a disastrous five minute spell.
Lancaster picked up the ball on the left and fed the ball to Wrightson, his reverse pass split the RCA defence in two and Bainbridge was able to capitalise on a slip by Wray to get i a low shot which went through the legs of Morris and into the net.
Five minutes later and it was 2-0, this time a run by Denver Morris was stopped inside the box by Bythway only for the ball to fall into the path of Richardson who squared it to the unmarked Bainbridge who finished clinically from eight yards out.
RCA tried to get back into the game with a number of half chances but the Shields defence were in no mood to let them get any sort of a foothold on the match.
In the 75th minute Bannon turned defence into attack with a quick throw out to Denver Morris who sprinted thirty yards before sliding the ball to Lucock who drew the RCA defence before squaring the ball to Bainbridge who blasted the home to complete his hat trick.
Shields were in almost total control now as their fitness came more into play and they stretched the RCA defence time and time again.
RCA made their substitutions but showed little by way of creativity in the final 15 minutes and it took a desperate tackle from Wood to stop Denver Morris from getting a shot on target.
As in the league match against Shields, RCA were given a object lesson in finishing. We played some good football for long spells in the game but Shields were patient and happy to get eight or nine players goalside of the ball and then hit with pace on the counter attack.
Once in front Shields looked comfortable and RCA found it difficult to break down their very efficient defence.
Good luck to North Shields in the next round against Seaham Red Star. Whoever wins this one might well go all the way to Wembley.