Saturday, 8 March 2014
EBAC Northern League Division 1
Goalscorers: SRCA: None: Morpeth: Forster (3), Wright, Swanson.
Changes were forced on the Management team for today's match at Morpeth Town, Horsman with a foot injury sustained at work will be out for a few weeks and Hughes on holiday in Mexico is out for three weeks.
In to the team came Wilkinson in a three man defensive unit and Jim Wilson started in the midfield for the first time.
5 0 may on paper look like a drubbing for the team, but in effect Morpeth had about 10 minutes in the first half and scored two fantastic goals then in the second half they scored two goals in a minute as RCA started to wilt. Unfortunately for RCA they only tested the home keeper on twooccasions and for all their possession were unable to put pressure on a Morpeth defence which looked in total control.
The game started at a frantic pace with both teams committed to attacking at every opportunity, a good piece of link up play between Wilson and Halliday, set Brown away down the right and when his cross was met by Barton it looked like an early goal was on the cards unfortunately the striker header was turned round the post by Mundy.
In the nonth minute Grant made a great interception in the heart of the midfield before releasing the ball to Forster who made no mistake blasting the ball past the advancing Carmichael.
RCA responded almost immediately, Wilson found Fryatt in space and the dimintive striker skipped past two challenges before crossing into the box where Jewels was forced to concede a corner, from the corner the ball fell to Halliday who slipped the ball to Wilson but his shot missed the target.
Morpeth went 2-0 up in the 20 minute, a great piece of individual skill from Forster as he cut inside the full back before sending the home fans delerious with a 35 yard looping shot the flashed past Carmichael and into the top corner.
Minues later Fryatt again slipped past his marker but once again his cross into the box was met by a Morpeth defender and cleared.
RCA were starting to get a grip of the midfield and when Wilson slipped the ball to Fryatt inside the area it took a supurb covering tackle from Jewels to deny Barton a chance to get on the score sheet.
In the 36 minute Morpeth won a corner which was headed clear by Brown but the ball fell to Fry who sent the long range effort wide of the RCA goal.
A minute later and a corner at the other end this time Jewels headed clear only as far as Brown who chipped in across to the far post Wray headed the ball out to Wilson who fired low but wide.
As the half time whistle approached Wilson again played in Fryatt and again his effort was blocked by Jewels.
The second half followed the pattern of the first half RCA with a lot of possession but unable to penetrate a very well organised Morpeth defence and Morpeth doing what they do best counter attack at speed.
In the 50th minute a lovely through ball from Halliday found Barton who slammed the ball home only to be ruled offside. From the freekick the ball was played up field to Forster who, controlled the ball well before firing in a shot which went inches wide of the upright.
Five minutes later and substitute Nathan Wilson took a freekick to Fryatt who sent a lovely ball into the box for Barton but he fired over the bar. That could have been 2-2 what happened next was Morpeth at their best.
Henderson won the ball on the right, ran 30 yards with the ball before sending in a teasing cross which was met by Wright who headed the ball home past a helpless Carmichael.
RCA kicked off lost the ball on the right again and the ball was played forward quickly to Swanson who clamly slotted the ball into the net.
A nightmare minute and 4-0 down.
The only meaningful contribution from that point on was a little dribble and a cross shot from Patton which Mundy saved superbly diving to his left.
Forster completed his hat trick in the 90 minute when again he latched onto a long clearance before finishing with some aplomb.
Morpeth obviously had a point to prove after their set back last week against Billingham Town.
RCA having defended really well in their last two matches never got to grips with the game today. We looked decent going forward but where hit time and again by the quick counter attacking play of Morpeth.
Lesson to be learnt in this match is that we need to defend first and the attacking options will come. Morpeth showed that today, We showed it against Marske last Tuesday.
Next up is Billingham Town who beat Morpeth last week so this will be no pushover.