Tuesday, 8 October 2013
EBAC Northern League Division 1
Goalscorers: Whitley Bay: Chow (3), Rivers, Smith: SRCA: Hassan, Fryatt.
RCA were undone by a combination of poor defending and some good Whitley Bay defending.
Both teams made forced changes to their squads for the match. RCA have lost the services of Edwards who has decided once again that the grass is greener elsewhere. They gave debuts to three players, Daniel Wray, Nathan Wilson and Steven Baynes while notable absentees from the Whitley Bay team were Leon Ryan and Tom Kindley they also gave a debut to Robert Nolan. Both keepers lined up against their former clubs.
The opening minutes of the game saw both teams passing the ball well without any real chances in front of goal. That all changed in the 10th minute when former RCA player Rivers made a mazy run towards goal where he was brought down by a clumsy challenge from Horsman. The referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty which Chow took firing his shot low into the bottom corner.
RCA came forward looking for an equaliser and when Baynes picked the ball up inside the Whitley half he ran across field beating a number of defenders before being bundled to the ground, the appeals for a penalty were waved away.
The ball was cleared up field toward Carmichael who hesitated when coming for the ball and when he miskicked the ball Rivers was on hand to dispossess him and shot into an empty net.
Within a minute a cross into the box by Harrison saw Ball lose control of the ball under pressure from Barton and the RCA striker turned and fired wide of the target.
Whitley continued to press forward. Brooking had a weak shot easily saved by Carmichael and Nolan fired the ball over the bar when in a good position.
RCA, having withstood this pressure, gained some momentum of their own. A long throw from Harrison was returned to the full back by Morris and he curled a wicked cross into the area which was missed by everyone and went narrowly wide of the far post.
In the 38th minute RCA got a goal back when Jury won the ball on the right, crossed the ball into the box where Barton's volley was punched clear by Ball. Hassan, following up, got to the ball in front of Smith to stab home.
Whitley were the first on the attack in the second half with Nolan bursting past the RCA defence but Carmichael was able to turn the ball for a corner.
RCA were not to be outdone and Fryatt made a good run down the left before shooting straight at Ball in the Bay keeper.
There then followed a manic period of football as Whitley went further into the lead when Smith, rose to meet an Anthony corner to head powerfully past Carmichael into the net.
RCA response was immediate. From the kick off the ball was switched by Wilson who sent the ball forward where Barton chased the ball into the area before squaring it into the path of Fryatt who slid the ball home.
The game swung from end to end. Chow had a shot blocked by Carmichael’s legs then Wilson had a great effort saved by Ball.
RCA looked to be in the ascendancy at this point and it was only some great goalkeeping by Ball that kept RCA from equalising, first saving from Harrison and then producing a tremendous save from Brown.
Midway through the half, Chow had two chances to extend the lead, firing just wide on the first occasion then bringing a block by Carmichael before the ball was cleared off the line by Jury.
As RCA pressed forward looking for the equaliser they were caught on the counter when Chow picked up a long ball from Robertson before firing the ball past Carmichael. Then, deep in stoppage time, the same combination were responsible for the fifth goal when Robertson sent in a cross which Chow took in his stride to guide into the net to complete his hat trick.
The result was in the balance right up until the last two minutes and on another night RCA might have expected to get a draw for their efforts.