Saturday, 20 February 2010
Durham County Youth League
After early pitch inspections, the game got the go ahead, albeit on an adjacent football pitch that was smaller than where the original would have been played. This turned out to be a very tight game that was only settled in the later stages.
In the first half play was very condensed and both sides were closing down well allowing little room. Aycliffe nearly took the lead after 25 minutes when a central midfielder played a one-two and on receiving the final pass found space to crack an excellent effort that smashed against the bar. RCA responded with efforts from Lee Andrews, then Luke Olabode who, racing in at the back post, headed on target and the keeper pushed over for a corner. The home side were dangerous at set pieces and RCA also had to defend well against a specialist long thrower. There was little between the sides and the half time score was 0 - 0.
The second half was much more like it from RCA who upped the ante winning many corners and free kicks. However the home side were defending strongly and in particular the two central defenders were proving very capable. After the hour three sustitutes were introduced for RCA,
Jamie Alston, Mark Robinson and Kieran Stokoe thrown in, for an all out attack formation. The changes had effect with Robinson winning successive corners down the left. Liam Cox fired a corner in on 80 minutes and Ryan Mather at the back post headed sweetly giving the keeper no chance. 1 - 0 and real relief for RCA. Minutes later a further free kick was won outside the box. Stokoe approached with the dummy option to shoot, but Cox crossed the ball into space at the back of the wall when Mather raced in again to slide the ball past the keeper. 2 - 0 and game over! Another welcome three points that keeps RCA in touch with the leaders. Only seven games left and any team from five can win the division, which is the most open it has been in many years.