Wednesday, 18 September 2013
Brooks Mileson Memorial League Cup
Scorers: Morpeth: Anderson 3, Taylor 2, Chilton 2 SRCA: Logan
RCA started this game with only one change to the team that lost to Billingham Town on Saturday, Andrew Brown starting the game and Halliday moving to an unaccustomed central defensive role in place of Paul Wardle who has left the club to take up an asistant management job at Washington FC.
5 - 0 down inside 40 minutes showed up the problems that have beset RCA this season that of allowing crosses into the penalty area without any pressure on the ball.
Apologies to all Morpeth fans who read this, but I was unable to ascertain from anyone on the night the order in which the goalscorers scored, this was my best shot.
The game started in dramatic style as Morpeth went for the jugular from the off. Taylor picked up a loose ball on the left and his first time cross into the box was only partly parried away by Jameson and the ball was blasted into the bottom corner by Anderson.
Two minutes later and it was 2-0 to the Highwayman, when a slip by Brown allowed the ball to run to Robinson who then slipped the ball into the path of Taylor who slotted home past the helpless Jameson.
RCA almost responded immediately when from the kick off the ball was switched to the left and Home-Jackson fed the ball through to Barton, but the striker's finish was easily saved by Mundy.
It wasn't long before Morpeth recorded their third goal, this time it was one of stunning proportions. Henderson picked the ball up from Mundy, was allowed to run unchallenged for 15 yards before making a 50 yard pass into the left hand side of the RCA penalty area where Chilton was waiting unmarked 16 yards out; he hit the ball first time sending it crashing into the roof of the net with Jameson understandably rooted to spot. A truely wonderful goal and worth the entrance fee on its own.
For all their dominance it was RCA who next struck and it was only some superb goalkeeping that denied them a goal. Jameson sent a long freekick forward and Logan controlled the ball well before skipping past two defenders and shooting low toward the goal, Mundy managed to get a hand to the ball, but it was still heading toward the net until Walmsley headed off the line.
RCA continued to press forward, but were vulnerable to the counter attack. Hutchinson looked to stop the ball with his hand, but when appeals for a hand ball were turned down he sent the ball forward to Forster who clipped the ball into the six yard area for Anderson to Head home to make it 4-0.
Morpeth were on the rampage now and looked to be able to get behind the RCA defence at will, it was therefore no surprise when Taylor made it 5-0 just before half time.
RCA brought on Hassan after 50 minutes and his first contribution to the game was to rob Mundy of the ball before rolling in a cross towards, Barton which was intercepted by Tumilty.
Morpeth struck back and it took a good save from Jameson to stop them increasing their lead when Taylor burst through and shot low.
Hassan almost got one back for the visitors when he got past Tumilty before sending in a shot cum cross which went across the face of goal and narrowly wide of the far post.
In the 75 minute, Morpeth were awarded a free kick on the edge of the penalty area and Anderson fired it straight through the wall and into the net for his hat trick.
A minute later and RCA got a consolation goal when Edwards sent a cross into the box, Mundy dropped the ball under pressure from Hassan and the ball fell to Logan who volleyed the ball home.
The joy of getting a goal back was short lived as Morpeth produced yet another flowing move which saw the ball switched from deep in their own half by Henderson in the right hand corner, to man of the match Taylor on the left wing; he in turn squared the ball to Chilton who finished the move with some aplomb, firing low into the centre of the goal.
RCA were, on the night, thoroughly outplayed by a Morpeth side who were up for the game. They are a very good competitive team and unless you match them for pace and strength then you will be, like RCA were, under pressure for 90 minutes.