12th August 2009
skilltrainingltd Northern League Division 2: Attendance: 62
RCA went top of the skillstrainingltd Northern League Second division after thouroughly outplaying their opponents Darlington RA FC.
There was only one change to the team which started on Saturday, with Matty Noble coming in for Steve Jones who is on holiday.
RCA took the early initiative and where in control from the start. Darlington set out their stall to defend and try to counter attack. How it took until the 15 minute for RCA to test the keeper is a testament to Darlington's defensive line up.
Davies had two efforts on goal, but both failed to test Raine in the Darlington goal.
In the 22 minute Davison rounded the keeper but fired into the side netting. It looked like RCA's shooting had deserted them and this was evident again when Stewart fired in a shot from 20 yards which went straight into Raine's hands.
The first goal when it eventually came in the 32 minute was a tremendous strike from Coghlan from 35 yards which took a deflection off Darlington midfielder Martin Smith.
Four minutes later they doubled their lead when a Shields shot was saved by Raine but the loose ball was headed home by Stewart. Within minutes the same player was guilty of the miss of the season when he blazed over the bar from 2 yards out.
It did not take long for him to redeem himself when he took a pass from Coghlan, beat two defenders with a blistering turn of pace before cutting the ball back into the path of Davison who guided the ball into the bottom corner of the net.
Darlington's only effort in a poor first half or them was in the 46 minute when McKie fired wide from 30 yards out.
The second half was only a minute old when Davies produced a piece of brilliance, receiving a 40 yard pass from Wardle on the left wing, he cut inside before delicately chipping the ball over Raine's head and into the net.
In the space of two minutes Raine was called upon to save from Davies and Coghlan but was unable to do anything when Davies crossed for substitute Taylor to ram home the fifth. Within a minute it could have been six, but Davison's powerful header rebounded off the post. This was to be his last action of the match as he made way for the debut of Liam McBryde who was playing only three weeks after knee surgery.
Darlington although well beaten did try to play some football and late in the game Jenkinson was unlucky with an effort, but the only save that Hoggeth had to make all game was in the 92 minute when he saved a 30 yard shot from Max Ripley.
