RCA's Clayton Davis battles for the ball in the second half of the match.
Saturday, 6 December 2014
EBAC Northern League Division 1
Goalscorers: SRCA: Brown, Callen, Hughes. West Allotment: Stonemen.
Please click here for photos from the match.
With no game since the 3 - 0 defeat by North Shields in the FA Vase on the 22 November RCA were looking to get their season back on track at Whitley Park. A victory today against fellow strugglers West Allotment Celtic would go a long way to restoring the confidence of the team after three straight defeats.
Martin Swales made several changes to the side which crashed out of the Vase, Carmichael, Jury,Hughes, Charlton and Davis all returned to the first eleven. In a bold move he started the game with Ross Preston playing up front alongside Joe Hughes.
It was the home team who started on the front foot and in the opening minute Hudson found space on the left to run at the RCA defence before firing in a rasping shot which Carmichael did well to save. A minute later Hudson was again unmarked on the left this time his wicked cross evaded everyone and was cleared by Bythway.
RCA absorbed the initial pressure before settling into their passing game, Jury almost opened the scoring in the eighth minute when he latched onto a loose ball on the edge of the penalty area, but blasted his shot wide of the post.
However, RCA didn't have to wait very long to take the lead. Armstong's 12th minute freekick into the box was headed away by Pendlebury, but fell invitingly for Brown on the edge of the box and he powered in a shot which took a deflection on its way into the net.
RCA should have extended their lead minutes later when Beal misjudged the flight of the ball from a Brown corner and the ball fell to Armstrong who looked to have chipped the ball back into the net only for Pendlebury to head over the bar. From the poorly taken corner the home team broke quickly but McGlen totally miscued when through on goal and the ball went halmlessly for a goal kick.
In the 20th minute Jury picked up a pass from Wood before crossing into the box where Hughes met the ball but could only steer his header over the bar.
A minute later and a long ball from Brown found was collected by Hughes who squared it to Preston and he forced a fine save from Beal.
West were threateneing on the break and alarm bells were ringing in the RCA defence when a McGlen cross was headed wide of the upright by Reid then minute later the winger sent an inch perfect pass into the path of Fenwick who, with only the keeper to beat, fired low and hard but Carmichael was able to pull off a supurb one handed save to deny West the equaliser.
RCA where forced on the defensive as half time approached, Fenwick was again denied when he had a shot blocked by Wray and the follow up by Hudson went wide of the post. At the other end Davis had a great chance to increase RCA's lead but his shot was deflected away for a corner.
In the final minute of the half West were awarded a corner. McGlen sent the ball to the far post where Reid powered in a header which Carmichael palmed away but Stoneman was on hand to blast the ball into the net.
Not the best time to concede and it could have been made even worst in injury time when a West freekick was drifted to the back post where Reid was again unmarked but headed wide of the targert.
Unpeturbed by the last five minutes of the first half RCA opened the second half on fire and in the opening minute Davis, tore past the West defence before crossing to the far post where Callen headed goalwards, Beal made a great save parrying the ball out and made an even better save from Callen's follow up shot.
RCA restored their lead in the 50th minute when Wood dribbled past two defenders before slipping the ball to Callen who made no mistake directing his shot wide of the keeper and into the net.
Davis was starting to make his presence felt on the right and when he drifted past his marker and crossed into the box it looked certain that Armstrong would score but the youngster directed his shot inches wide of the upright.
Hughes put the game beyond doubt in 65th minute when he latched onto a ball from Preston before driving into the box past a despairing tackle and despatching a lovely shot into the bottom corner of the net.
West responded by going on the attack, but RCA defended well, a strong penalty appeal was waved away as West surged forward. when they did get past the solid back four of RCA, Carmichael was there to pick up the pieces.
In the 70 minute Carmichael was brought into action charging out to meet Reid who was sent clear by McGlen, the shot by Reid struck Carmichael and spun tantalisingly wide of the far post.
Hughes, Davis and Callen all spurned chances to increase RCA lead as the game entered the final minutes and West threw players forward leaving gaps in their defence
In the final minute Callen thought he’d scored his second when he beat Beal to a high cross, but man of the match Pendlebury was once again on hand to clear of the line .
This victory makes little change to the league table but it does move us closer to the the other struggling teams.
It will have also restored confidence in the team and the belief that we can finish the season in a mid table spot. "The season starts here."
With Shildon's match off our next fixture will be at home to Penrith.