Saturday, 17 January 2015
Friendly
Goalscorers: Larkin (3), Wood, Brown, Bythway, Bogie.
Richmond Town called off their game with Cleator Moor on Friday night as their pitch was waterlogged. A Friendly was hastily arranged between the managers of Richmond and RCA and the game took place on the 4g pitch at Conyers School in Yarm.
It gave the manager a chance to look at some fringe player while also giving match time to the full squad.
The match gave new signing Colin Larkin a chance to show us what he can do, he didn't disappoint as he scored a first half hattrick inside the first 30 minutes, Lewis Wood, recently returned from Australia, completed the first half scoring, slotting home after Bogie forced a good save from the Richmond keeper.
Wholesale changes were made at half time, there was also a change of system to a 3-5-2 formation (not a favorite of mine but that is what friendlies are for.)
The scoring continued when Larkin was brought down by the Richmond keeper inside the penalty area, Brown stepped up to convert the penalty blasting in after the keeper saved the initial spot kick.
Bythway was the next on the scoresheet with a stunning volley from the edge of the penalty area direct from a Megran corner.
Richmond then got their just rewards for a lot of second half effort when they scored two goals in as many minutes as the RCA management team made changes in the personnel and the formation again.
Bogie completed the scoring with a well taken goal late in the game.
A number of players will have impressed the manager today, James Rowe never wasted a ball all game, Colin Larkin impressed up front combining effectively with Stephen Bogie and Kieran Megran looked very comfortable on the ball.
The manager must have been impressed with the overall performance as RCA dominated from the off and controlled the game, If they had taken all their chances it could have been 12 or 13.