Joseph Hughes attacks down the left in the first half of the match.
Tuesday, 23 September 2014
Brook Mileson League Cup Preliminary Round.
Goalscorers: SRCA: Barton (2), L Wood, Bythway.
Please click here for photos from the match.
The first team selection for the new management team, an away League Cup match against Celtic Nation FC, who are probably not firing on all cylinders at present but are well capable on their day of performing against the best in the division, RCA also had traffic problems to contend with, an accident on the A19 meant four players were late for the team bus.
With Carmichael still injured Carl Morris retained the No 1 Jersey, the back four remained unchanged, Brown came into midfield to replace Price and their was no change up front.
Less than five minutes to warm up and out onto the pitch, not ideal preparation for the players but what was to follow was a revelation. The players are the same, but the desire, passion and hunger is there for all to see.
The game started badly for RCA who looked a little leg weary as the hosts poured forward from the off and as early as the sixth minute took the lead, a straight forward looking pass was clipped into space by Boyd and Armstrong, who looked yards offside, picked up the ball 20 yards out before slipping it past the advancing Morris and into the net.
With a goal advantage the home team looked to keep possession and RCA were pressing hard to stop them retaining the ball.
Celtic Nation were intent on stopping RCA when in possession committing a number of niggling fouls which went unpunished.
In the 18th minute RCA got their first real effort on goal when Bythway pick up a pass from Hughes before crossing into the box for Barton to head toward goal, but the ball was deflected for a corner. Gary Wood took the corner and sent it deep to the far post where it was partially cleared by Crozier. Preston picked up the loose ball and was immediately fouled. Gary Wood took the resulting freekick and Lewis Wood headed it over the bar.
The hosts having withstood this pressure came forward once more with Douglas and Skinner combining to set up Armstrong, his shot was blocked by Wray and the ball fell to Douglas inside the penalty, the diminutive winger’s shot was well saved by Morris.
With the game flowing now it was the turn of RCA to apply the pressure and Hughes almost capitalised on a defensive error when the ball rebounded to him from a clearance by Allan, the RCA striker chose to curl his shot round the advancing Casson but could only watch in horror as it went agonisingly wide of the far post.
The game then got bogged down in midfield with both teams guilty of committing fouls and the referee was happy to stop play at every opportunity.
As the game entered the last five minutes of the half it was clear that the home team were looking to retain possession and their passing was excellent until the final third. To be fair to RCA when they had the ball they were also passing it much better than in previous matches.
RCA started well in the second half, Hughes, who had caused problems with his pace in the first half, burst past two defenders, got to the by line and crossed into the penalty area where Brown controlled the ball before squaring it to Gary Brown, but the RCA captain snatched at the shot and it sailed wide.
Celtic Nation were finding it difficult to string two passes together at the start of the half and it was no surprise when RCA equalised in the 62nd minute. Bythway won the ball inside his own half, picked out McNab on the left wing, he took the ball forward a few paces, looked up and sent a perfectly weighted cross into the box where Barton rose highest to power a headed past the despairing dive of Casson.
Three minutes later and RCA took the lead as the home team lost control of the ball in midfield, Lewis Wood picking up a loose pass, fed the ball to Hughes who flicked it on the Brown he evaded two tackles before sending in a cross which was met by Bythway inside the penalty area and he blasted the ball home from 10 yards out.
RCA took full advantage of the disaaray in the home team’s defence as they pressed forward looking to kill the game off.
In the 70th minute RCA were awarded a freekick on the right wing, the kick was swung in towards the near post and Lewis Wood was on hand to glance a header into the net.
It was all RCA now and they were relentless in their pressure, Celtic Nation were finding it difficult to get the ball out of their own half and resorted to long ball tactics.
In the 88th minute a ball into the box from McNab was controlled by Barton, but as he tried to get in a shot he was fouled by Casson and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Barton converted the spot kick to make it 4-1.
After a shaky start RCA turned this one round convincingly. It was good to see the encouragement from the dug out even when a goal down. The players responded with a brilliant second half display.