Tuesday, 3 September 2013
EBAC Northern League Division 1
Goalscorers: SRCA , none Bishops: Hawkins (2) L Bythway (2)
Unbeaten Bishop Auckland FC were the visitors to Meadow Park for this EBAC Northern League match.
RCA were still without the suspended Andrew Brown and injuries continue to plague the club with four players unable to play.
It was almost a dream start for RCA as from the kick off Edwards received the ball and played it forward into the path of Home-Jackson who lobbed the advancing Pocklington and watched as the ball drifted agonisingly wide of the goal.
Five minutes into the game and Brunskill picked up a through ball from Hawkins and was only denied by the quick thinking of Jameson who blocked the shot.
Bishops, slightly against the run of play, took the lead when a cross into the box was headed on by Luke Bythway and Hawkins was on hand to glance a header home past Jameson.
The goal seemed to pick up the tempo of the game as Bishops looked for a second quick goal. Attempts by Megran and Hodgson were dealt with by the RCA defence and having weathered a rough patch they came back strongly.
A thundering freekick by McGuinness was deflected over the bar by the Bishops wall, the resulting corner was headed down by Barton into the path of Jury, but his shot was cleared.
RCA were on the front foot now and a long ball from Bell was chested down by Barton into the path of Edwards who couldn't keep his shot down and it flew over the bar.
A minute later a dreadful back pass by an RCA defender forced a brilliant one handed save from Jameson, RCA Broke from the resulting corner and Winter really should have done better, having beaten the last defender he tried to curl the ball past the keeper but Pocklington was able to make an easy save.
In the 28th minute RCA were awarded a corner, taken by Edwards, the ball was flicked at the near post Home-Jackson and struck Pocklinton on the chest, the keeper was able to recover and pluck the ball out of the air with Barton in close attendance.
For all their pressure RCA were not able to take advantage and produce the goal that could change the game, indeed it was Bishop who came back at RCA and a cros into the box by Douglas was headed over by Luke Bythway.
A surging run by Douglas was stopped at the expense of a corner by Bell and Hodgson headed the ball wide of the upright from the resulting kick.
Thompson almost equalised as the half time whistle approached, picking the ball up on the right wing, he cut inside, beat several defenders before striking a low shot which went narrowly wide of the post with Pocklington struggling.
The first half was a fairly even affair with Bishops managing a goal which RCA couldn't. The second half was more like the battle of the Alamo with RCA unable to defend effectively against the Bishop Auckland onslaught.
Two minutes into the half and it was 2-0 when a right wing freekick taken by Hawkins was headed home by the unmarked Luke Bythway.
Three minutes later and a rampant Bishops made it 3-0, with the RCA defence at sixes and sevens, Douglas crossed into the box, the ball was flicked on and into the path of Hawkins ata the far post and he fired the ball into the roof of the net past the helpless Jameson.
It was all Bishops as they tore forward and a shot from Douglas dipped just under the bar but Jameson was able to save comfortably. Then Lee Bythway rose highest to power in a header which went just over the bar.
On the hour mark Hawkins was fouled inside the area and a penalty was awarded which was taken by Luke Bythway who sent Jameson the wrong way.
Bishops pushed forward at every opportunity after that and only some good saves from Jameson kept the score at 4-0.
RCA only attempt on goal came in the 86th minute when substitute Southern fired in a dipping 25 yarder which Pocklington spectacularly tipped over the bar.
Not a good day at the office for the RCA.
Seven goals conceeded in last two home games after only conceeding four goals in the previous five matches tells its own story. We need to revert back to the principles applied in the West and Spenny games.
That being said the squad is still doing well and only needs tweaking; get some players back from injury and we will be flying again.