Tuesday, 09 September 2014
EBAC Northern League Division 1
Goalscorers: SRCA: Hughes. Whitley Bay: Watling, McDonald.
After the weekend success at Brinkburn Road in the FA Vase it was back to league action for RCA against a Whitley Bay team who are unbeaten at home this season.
RCA were forced to make changes with both McNab and Lewis Wood unavailable due to work committments. Captain, Gary Wood failed a late fitness test and was ruled out, but is hopeful for Saturday. Into the starting line up came Garry Guyan and Kyle Morris.
Both Teams stared hesitantly using long high balls to test each other out but both defences seemed well able to cope with this tactic.
In the first threatening move of the game Whitley Bay took the lead, McFarlane intercepted a pass and sent the ball forward to Bird who crossed the ball from out on the right and Peter Watling first time effort flew past Carmichael into the bottom corner of the net.
RCA's only reply at this stage was a freekick taken by Price which was deflected wide by the wall, the resulting corner to the back post was cleared by Ryan and although the ball fell to Guyan he was unable to get in a shot and the ball was cleared up field.
Whitley Bay were moving the ball around at pace and with purpose and on the quarter hour, Kempster raced into the 18 yard box and only a good challenge from Wilson stopped him. Although the Bay fans were appealing for a penalty the referee thought otherwise.
Kempster was causing problems on the left and Bird was doing likewise on the right it was the former who created the next chance for Bay as he burst past RCA's static looking defenders before seeing his shot blocked by Preston the ball ran to Watling who fired in a low shot and this was cleared by Wilson.
It was all Whitley Bay at the moment as they poured forward in numbers and a cross from Kempster was sliced clear by Wilson, the resulting corner, saw Bird's shot parried round the post by Carmichael for another corner, this time Watling side foot wide.
Two minutes later and a throw in from McDonald was allowed to bounce in the golmouth before Bird, attempted an overhead kick which ws easily saved by Carmichael
The next Whitley chance came when McFarlane played the ball through to Bird who slipped past RCA's defence again before shooting but Carmichael, who was having a great game, produced a scintillating save.
RCA, having withstood some ferocious pressure started to get into the game in the last 5 minutes and in the 42 minute almost equalised, a Price freekick was met at the near post by Barton but he could only glance his shot onto the post and away for a goalkick.
The second half saw no let up in the Whitley Bay pressure, McDonald picked up a loose ball 25 yards out but Jury was able to get foot to it to deflect it for a corner. The far post kick was met by Kempster whose shot was blocked by Wilson and the ball bounced about the goalmouth before being scrambled clear by Preston.
Within a minute the home team were on the attack again McFarlane was set away on the riight and his cross was met by Chow whose header was deflected wide for a corner. Kempster’s corner resulted in yet another goalmouth scramble which saw Carmichael block two shots before the danger was cleared.
As in the first half the Bay were asserting all the pressure with RCA reduced to long balls forward for Barton and Coe who were well marshelled by the home team defenders.
Chow played a neat through ball for Watling in the 57 minute which saw the striker clear and with only the keeper to beat but Carmichael made a tremendous diving save and somehow managed to tip the ball round the post.
RCA had there first real chance of the second half on the hour mark, awarded a corner on the right, Price swung the ball in to the near post where Barton managed to clip the ball goalward producing a brilliant one handed save from Gladstone and Smith was able to clear under pressure.
RCA immediately brought on Hughes who was returning after a month out with an ankle injury and he made an immediate impact, hitting the Whitley Bay bar with a snap shot from 30 yards out which Gladstone could do nothing about.
Having nearly conceded their lead, Whitley hit back and after Watling saw another effort pushed wide, Leon Ryan’s header from a right wing corner was pushed over the bar.
Another good run by Hughes resulted in a corner and Price sent it deep to the far post where Morris elected to volley instead of head and the ball cleared the bar despite protests that it was deflected.
Another surging run from McFarlane saw him yet again produce a save from Carmichael with a well struck low shot.
At the other end Hughes was causing problems with his pace and when he dribbled past two defenders to set up Barton it looked odds on that he would equalise but he chose to try and chip the keeper and his effort drifted wide of the post.
A few minutes later Hughes in another display af pace and dribbling fired narrowly over the bar.
Then came the controvertial moment in the game, in the build up to Whitley Bay's second goal Mr Keogh appeared to awarded a goal kick after a Whitley Bay shot flew over the bar. When the Bay fans complained he changed his mind, and not for the first time, pointed for a corner after seeing his assistant indicating a corner. This led to a furious response from the visiting players, some of whom seemed to feel he had been swayed, not for the first time, by the crowd and resulted in the booking of Brown.
The corner was taken and cleared for a throw in which was taken long into the box, Carmichael punched the ball clear but it fell perfectly for Chris McDonald who, seeing the keeper off his line crashed the ball into the net from 20 yards out.
Within 90 seconds Hughes had given RCA a lifeline, drifting in from the left he evaded two challenges before curling a supurb shot into the top corner of the net.
This set up grandstand finish to the match and in the final minute of the game Hughes once again got in a shot while under pressure from three Bay defenders, firing into the side netting.
It was to little too late from RCA but encouraging signs in the final 25 minutes of the game especially the introduction of Hughes and new signing Lee Bythway.
Whilst this was an entertaining game for the neutral it was Whitley Bay who produced the better play over the 90 minutes. They carried the luck for the second goal and maybe should have had a penalty and on balance probably deserved the three points.
Time and again at the end of matches we are left to discuss refereeing decisions and unfortunately when you are at the wrong end of the table they seem to forever go against you.
Massive game played by Josh Carmichael or the score line could have been worse. Having said that we defended well and Hughes looked back to some sort of fitness and will be an asset so long as he can remain injury free.
Guisborough up next.