Sunday, 4 September 2011
Durham County FA Sunday Cup - First Preliminary Round
RCA Barnes eventually saw of the challenge from a spirited Slaters Arms to comfortably progress to the Second Round of the County Sunday Cup.
Slaters started in determined fashion, if somewhat rather overstrong in some early challenges, but didn’t really threaten. By the same token RCA weren't particularly creating many chances either and the first half was turning into a drab affair when Slaters produced a decent cross for centre forward Isam Mohammed to head home at the far post to put them 1 - 0 ahead. That was how the first half finished.
However, after a half time management talk which focussed on trying to keep the ball better and play to feet, RCA took complete control at the start of the second half. The inevitable equaliser arrived after 55 minutes when Callum Charlton rose unchallenged to head home a left wing cross from Paul Brooke. This was followed almost immediately with a similar goal from Paul Brooke, this time from a Chris Lawrence cross. A further goal followed after 65 minutes when Andy Place got on the score sheet with his first. Shortly afterwards Slaters chances were completely gone when Place scored again and they were reduced to 10 men when a substitute swore at the referee and was duly dismissed.
Paul Brooke then scored a fifth with a shot from distance that flew into the bottom right hand corner of the net after 85 minutes. The scoring was completed when Andy Place got his hat-trick in the final minute with an audacious cross cum shot from a tight angle, which hit the far post and crossed the line to give a final scoreline of 6 - 1 to RCA.
Special mention goes to Slaters keeper Paul Holloway who was outstanding, especially in the second half, and kept the scoreline to a respectable level.