RCA captain Gavin Barton leads by example as he tackles and wins the ball.
Saturday, 5 April 2014
EBAC Northern League Division 1
Goalscorers: SRCA: Barton (2), Hughes, McAvoy: Bedlington: Williamson, Dobson
Please click here for photos from the match.
This match was billed as a six-pointer, two teams at the wrong end of the table playing for their survival in the ENL first divison. Neither team were looking at the results of other clubs to help them, the pre match talk on the terraces was of getting something out of todays match to relieve the pressure at the bottom.
RCA recalled captain Gav Barton to the team replacing Jim Wilson and the evergreen Wayne Henderson was brought into cover for Aaron Brown who has left for foreign lands. Danny Wray was unavailable due to work commitments.
Both teams started, understandably, nervously and the opening ten minutes were very scrappy with neither team coming to terms with a very uneven surface.
In the 10th minute Fryatt was released on the right wing by Jury; his cross into the box was met by McAvoy 12 yards out and he hit the ball first time over the bar.
The reaction from the Terriers was instantaneous. Goss won a header inside the RCA half and the ball fell to Watson who sent in a terrific volley which was cleared off the line by Henderson. The ball was then picked up by Williamson who made a great run forward before unleashing a low drive which Carmichael did well to save at the foot of the post.
The ball was sent forward by Carmichael to Patton who controlled the ball superbly on the left wing before setting off on mazy, dribbling run which saw him beat three players before firing in a low shot which Towart could only parry into the path of Barton who made no mistake fron five yards out.
RCA started to get to grips with the midfield and looked in control of the game. Fryatt was causing all sorts of problems down the right and when a through ball from Stanger was picked up by the winger he burst into space before sending in a low cross which again was met by the advancing McAvoy who forced a great save from Towart.
The Terriers continued to battle away and almost got the equaliser on the half hour when Watson nipped past two defenders before sliding the ball to Goss who's shot was well saved by Carmichael and a minute later Goss fed the ball to Williamson who broke into the box before stabbing the ball goalward, producing another super save from Carmichael.
RCA went 2-0 up in the 35th minute when a dribble by Fryatt saw the ball switched to Patton who lobbed the ball forward to the edge of the area were Barton controlled the ball before firing in a truely superb volley which Towart could not stop nestling in the bottom corner of the net, despite getting both hands to the ball.
The young guns of Bedlington earned a lifeline in the 40th minute when, from a RCA throw in, they won the ball on the left wing. Dobson played the ball to Goss who slipped the ball into the path of the advancing Williamson and he made no mistake, slamming the ball home from 10 yards out.
The second half opened in electrifying fashion. A freekick was awarded to the Terriers and from about 30 yards out Watson struck a great shot which Carmichael could only palm up into the air and luckily for RCA Preston was on hand to head clear with Goss in close attendance. From the resultant corner Carmichael punched clear (it was later discovered that he had damaged his hand in doing so).
The ball was cleared to Patton who moved forward before bringing Hughes into the play, the RCA forward dribbled into the box before stabbing the ball wide of the target, a little bit more composure and he could have sent the ball sideways to Barton who was in a great position to complete his hat trick.
RCA were once again starting to impose themselves on the game and in particular Patton who was seeing a lot of the ball.
In the 53rd minute a lovely through ball from Stanger released Patton inside the box and it was only some brilliant defending by Dixon that prevented him from scoring.
A minute later and Patton picked the ball up on the left, cut inside before slipping the ball to Hughes who crossed to Barton who could only steer the ball over the bar from six yards out.
RCA went further ahead in the 60th minute. Hughes won a corner on the right which was swung to the back post by Patton, picked up by Preston who fired in a shot which was deflected wide for another corner. Patton again took the kick and this time it was aimed to towards the fornt post where Hughes swooped to glance a header into the top corner of the net.
The relief on the pitch was evident and whether the RCA players relaxed or the Bedlington players upped their game is debateable, what was clear was the sudden surge of energy the the Beddlington team got as they went for broke.
Patton was replaced after picking up an ankle injury after a clumsy challenge by Watson.
Watson picked up the ball in the centre of midfield and sent a great ball forward to Williamson who blazed the ball wide of the upright.
A minute later and Williamson was on hand to send in a cross which was defended at the near post by Jury. Then McRoberts chipped in a teasing cross which looked to strike the bar but was adjudged to have been tipped over the bar by Carmichael.
Carmichael punched the ball clear from the corner, but it was won back by Watson, who was having an outstanding game; he slipped past the tackles of two defenders before shooting past the post.
In the 77th minute, McAvoy had a wonderful chance to finish the game off when he broke away from the last defender but with only the keeper to beat he lobbed the ball straight into the arms of Towart.
RCA killed the game off in the 84th minute. A throw in by Jury was controlled by Barton who flicked the ball over his head into the path of Hughes who outpaced the Bedlington defence before looking up and cutting the ball back into the path of McAvoy who slammed the ball home from ten yards out to make it 4-1.
Bedlington showed their resilience and spirit when, after Davison had fired wide in the 91st minute, they got a consolation goal when a tantalising cross into the box was met by Dobson who volleyed the ball dramatically into the net giving Carmichael no chance.
The relief of the RCA players, management team, committee and supporters was evident as First Division survival was all but secured with this win.
Team Nothumbria, having lost today, need to win all their remaining games against Ashington, Spennymoor and West Auckland to stand any chance of staying up.
After two brilliant performances against Guisborough and Ashington, RCA never reached those heights today, but what they did do was to grind out a result against a young spirited Bedlington side.
RCA will have learned a lot from today's experience, they were able to cope with a tricky surface continued to play some good football and also scored some good team goals.
We need to start looking at next season and let's make sure that we keep hold of the good youngsters on our books and next season could well see SRCA fighting for a top ten position.
Finally congratulations to West Auckland FC on reaching the FA Vase final, especially to ex-RCA player Brian Close who deserves more than most his day out at Wembley.