Tuesday, 10 March 2015
EBAC Northern League Division 1
Goalscorers: Dunston: OG, Burrell: SRCA: Larkin, Armstrong
Games between these two teams in recent years have been fairly close fought contests although it is fair to say that Dunston have won a lot more than RCA.
Unfortunately the management team could not name the same team that won so convincingly at Celtic Nation on Saturday, Bythway was working, both Callen and Megran were injured and Weldon was rested, to replace these, in came Preston, Davis, Rowe and Hughes.
RCA took advantage of the slight slope in the first half and were eager to go forward from the off, as early as the third minute good passing between Larkin and Hughes set up Charlton who burst into the area but his shot was blocked by Cattanach.
Almost immediately at the other end McAndrew had a shot saved by Carmichael, within a minute the same player was firing over the bar, from an offside position, after Wood had lost the ball on the edge of the area.
RCA started to get their passing game together and produced a number of chances a Hughes shot was saved by Connell and on 10 minutes Hughes was again in the thick of the action as he drove into the box before firing wide.
The pattern of the game was being established as the ball was switched from end to end, in the 15th minute a Burrell free kick was parried by Carmichael out, Ormston was quick to react but his cross cum shot went harmlessly across the face of goal.
Two minutes later Dunston took the lead in quite fortuitous circumstances. Wilson did well to keep the ball in near the bye-line before driving a cross into the box which eluded Carmichael and struck Brown in the face diverting it into the empty net.
RCA’s response was to take the game to Dunston in the 25th minute they were awarded a freekick when Hughes was fouled, Larkin took the freekick which Connell saved diving to his right, a minute later Larkin was fed in by Armstrong but shot wide, Brown whose own goal separated the teams picked up the ball in midfield and finished off a driving run with a low shot which Connell collected on the second attempt.
RCA were quickly back on the attack and this time it was Hughes supplying Larkin who shot over from a good position. It was all RCA as they piled forward looking for the equaliser, a great dribble and shot by Wood was spilled by Connell but he was able to recover before Larkin pounced.
As half time approached Rowe sent a great ball forward to Hughes who slipped the ball to Wood his measure cross into the box was met by Armstrong who powered in a header which unluckily struck Hughes and was cleared.
The RCA pressure continued after the break. In the 47th minute an Armstrong freekick was controlled by Hughes before he turned and shot but it was headed clear for a corner by Gilhespy.
A Hughes cross two minutes later was heading toward Armstrong but Connell intercepted. RCA were deservedly level in the 50th minute when Larkin raced onto a lovely through ball from Wood past a static Dunston defence before rounding the keeper to slot home via the post despite the despairing effort of Gilhespy to clear off the line.
They could have taken the lead within minutes when Larkin crossed but Rowe could only guide his shot wide of the upright.
Dunston who had been reduced to breakaways and long range efforts were awarded a penalty in the 58 minute when Brown was adjudged to have brought down Smith inside the area and the referee pointed to the spot. Burrell blasted the ball low into the bottom corner to restore the home team’s advantage.
The goal seemed to spur RCA forward and when they were awarded a freekick for an innocuous challenge on Hughes, Armstrong stepped up and took full advantage by curling the ball into the top corner with Connell rooted to the spot and so it was back to square one 2–2 with 61 minutes played.
Dunston picked up the pace and in the 67th minute Wilson headed on a ball from Weightman to Smith but he shot wide of the post.
Back came RCA, two minutes later awarded another free kick 35 yards out, Armstrong this time crossed to the far post where Rowe headed wide of the target.
The entertainment continued, Dunston almost took the lead in the 75th minute when a long clearance was picked up by Smith, his ball into the area was met by Kane who crossed back to Smith and his header was deflected wide for a corner.
A minute later and RCA’s nemesis Bulford drove in a low cross which found Wilson but he shot wide of the target. Bulford did get the ball in the net and much to the relief of the RCA players he was ruled offside.
In the 86th minute RCA had a great chance to win the game when Hughes played the ball across the Dunston goal to Bogie who, from five yards out, mis-hit his shot and it was easily collected by Connell, within a minute Kane got in a header from a Dunston corner which went right across the goal and past the far post.
RCA were still looking to grab a late winner and in the final minute of the game Hughes went past his marker but shot wide.
This was a good game to watch from a neutral point of view. RCA were well worth the draw and maybe should have won it. Both teams were 100% committed and this made for an entertaining match.
From RCA’s point of view there were loads of positives to take out of the game. A point against a good Dunston team. No player let themselves down. Great quality in our set plays and we created more chances throughout the ninety minutes than Dunston.
There were very promising displays from Rowe and Charlton who both looked sharp especially in the second half. While we are coming to expect big performances from Larkin, Jury and Preston we are now getting those performances from everyone.