RCA goal scorer Stephen Callen makes a trademark forceful attack in the first half of the match.
Saturday, 7 February 2015
EBAC Northern League Division 1
Scorers: SRCA: Callen, Bishops: None.
Please click here for photos from the match.
Please click here for photos by Peter Jackson.
Once again RCA were playing at the Nissan Sports Complex as the problems surrounding RCA’s pitch continue.
RCA were forced to make changes to the team who played so well against today’s opponents 10 days ago, with both Bythway and Weldon unavailable the management team re-shuffled the team, Preston moved to the heart of the defence and Richardson was brought in at left back. Callen was recalled to partner Larkin up front.
For their part Bishops had both Pocklington and Tarling returning after suspension.
The game kicked off in bright sunshine and it was RCA who went on the attack from the start, in the first minute Megran was set up by Rowe and he sent in a rasping shot which Pocklington saved quite comfortably.
RCA continued to press forward and in the fifth minute a slick move between Larkin and Callen saw the latter break down the right before crossing towards Larkin, but Poole was on hand to clear the danger.
Bishops' first attack came down the left as Lavery crossed into the box, Butler rose highest to get in a header which was easily saved by Carmichael.
The game was already opening up as the ball was switched from end to end, a through ball from Megran fell to Charlton but his shot was saved by Pocklington.
Within a minute the ball was at the other end and this time it was Thompson on the right crossing into the path of Butler who struck a thunderbolt of a shot which Carmichael blocked one handed and then, with Davis bearing down on goal, the RCA keeper managed to punch the ball clear a truly magnificent double save.
RCA took the lead in the tenth minute. Rowe won the ball in midfield before sending it forward to Larkin, he played an inch perfect pass into the path of Callen who shrugged off the challenge of Poole before slotting past Pocklington and into the bottom corner of the net.
The home team's lead could have been extended three minutes later when the influential Rowe clipped the ball through to Larkin who cut inside before powering in a shot which Pocklington did well to save, he could so easily have been embarrassed when his throw out fell straight to Megran but the RCA midfielder fired the ball straight back to a relieved Pocklington.
As the game became a battle of the two midfields chances were few and far between and both teams looked to play long hopeful balls forward with little purpose.
However RCA continued to show a great spirit and looked solid at the back. It wasn’t until the half hour mark that they was any further real goalmouth action and it was Bishops who provided it, Tarling winning the ball on the right wing moved forward before squaring the ball to Thompson but he fired over the bar when in a good position.
Two minutes later at the other end Pocklington picked up a through ball and for the second time in the game he threw the ball out straight to an RCA player this time it was Callen who fired the ball back towards goal but Pocklington was able to make a good save diving to his right.
Once again the game started to open up with both sides guilty of misplaced passes and only some good defending stopped any further scoring chances.
As the game drifted towards half time Bishops best chance fell to Davis who headed over a freekick from Lane while RCA’s best chance fell to Preston who headed over from a corner.
The second half saw Bishop’s pouring forward in an attempt to equalise and RCA defending in numbers and as the half progressed they got deeper and deeper into their own half.
In the 50th minute, what looked like a terrific challenge from Brown on Davis was punished with a freekick on the edge of the box. Tarling stepped up and fired in a low drive through the wall which Carmichael did well to block and Preston was on hand to clear the ball up field.
Bishop were passing the ball well at this point but with little penetration in the final third.
On the hour mark a ball into the box by Tarling was punched clear by Carmichael. The ball fell to Davis whose shot was blocked this time the ball rebounded to Lane who fired goalward but Brown was able to get a head on the ball and deflect it for a corner.
It was all Bishop in an attacking sense as they continued to send players forward. In the 75th minute Lavery fired in a long range shot which flew over the bar.
Carmichael came to RCA’s rescue once again in the 80th minute when a cross into the box by Johnson was flicked goalwards by Davis but the RCA keeper was alert to the danger and saved diving to his left.
RCA were restricted to long balls out of defence as the midfield tired and in the 83rd minute should have sealed the match when a long ball forward bounced invitingly for Larkin who chipped the ball over the advancing Pocklington, but the ball drifted wide of the goal.
A minute later and the same player almost scored a fluke goal as he broke down the right, his cross into the box was poor but actually deceived the Bishops' keeper landing on top of the net.
In a grandstand finish Bishops threw everything they had at RCA including sending the keeper up for a last minute corner.
RCA weathered the storm and ended up with the three points.
Although this was a less convincing performance than the one 10 days ago at Heritage Park, the defence looked solid and until Rowe suffered an injury mid way through the second half we looked good in midfield. Up front both Larkin and Callen worked hard in the first half but looked a little leg weary by the end.
Next up is Ashington away, never an easy game and with them getting a new management team in this week it will give the game added importance.