Monday, 11 April 2011
Brooks Mileson Memorial Cup Semi Final
Whoever said that football is a cruel game, was obviously refering to the irony, that no matter how hard a team try and no matter how well they play when decisions go against you they usually end up costing you games. Such cruelty was dealt out in double quantities in this Brooks Mileson League cup tie. Spennymoor rode their luck in the second half of this game and when it mattered produced the real moments of quality in the final stages.
RCA were forced once again to make significant changes to the team due to a mixture of injuries, suspensions and cup tied players. Spennymoor also made six changes to the team who won at Bedlington at the weekend, giving a debut to young keeper Samuel Grievson.
In an open first 15 minutes both teams looked to attack with Johnston for Moors going the closest with a dipping shot from 20 yards out which cleared the bar by inches. RCA responded and both Walton and Taylor could have done better with chances set up by Richards, but both fired wide of the target.
Spennymoor took the lead after 13 minutes when Richardson collected a pass from Johnston before turning quickly inside the area to fire past Hoggeth.
After this both sides were guilty of missing chances. Hubbard set up Peacock on 32 minutes, but the forward's shot was well off target and he looked to pull up sharply afterwards and was replaced.
Taylor had another good chance to equalize, but could not find the finish he was looking for and his shot went tamely over the bar.
The game continued to move from end to end with neither team testing the keepers.
The start of the second half saw Taylor burst through the Moors defence and with only the keeper to beat he got to much on the ball and scooped it over the bar.
Moors were finding it hard as RCA turned the screw with some great possession which pinned them back for long periods.
RCA equalised when a long ball from McGuinness was misjudged by Grievson and Walton steered the ball goalwards only to see Ryan clear off the line; however the clearance struck Walton on the knee and went into the empty net.
Substitute Craig Ruddy almost regained Moors lead when his 20 yard shot crashed off the woodwork, but the RCA defence dealt with follow up and cleared their lines.
RCA were creating chance after chance and had a hatful of corners, but could not seem to get past the resilient Moors' defending.
RCA were denied a penalty in the 85th minute when Dalton was fouled in the process of shooting; the referee waved away the protests. Within a minute Moors ended the home side’s hopes of a cup shock when Dalton again appeared to be fouled on the edge of the box and with the RCA player down Moors elected to play on and Richardson was able to ride the tackle of Beasley to unleash a brilliant strike into the top corner from 25 yards.
RCA were guilty of another glaring miss when Richards and Walton combined, but the final shot went over the top.
Moors booked their place in the final with a third in stoppage time when Ruddy crossed for Hubbard to score with a diving header in the 94th minute.
Good luck to Jason Ainsley, the committee and the Spennymoor team in the Final. For SRCA there is always next year.
