Tuesday, 21 October 2014
EBAC Northern League Division 1
Goalscorers: SRCA: Hughes, N. Aycliffe: C Winter.
Meadow Park played host to third bottom Newton Aycliffe in this six-pointer, the visitors having suffered a run of six straight defeats while we have lost our last two matches despite playing well.
However with both teams recently securing the services of new managers and new players this was always going to be a close run affair.
Out of the window at half time went the unwritten rule regarding discussing the referee's performance, but that is for a little later.
RCA were forced to make a change up front with Barton unable to play after injuring his ankle in Saturday's defeat and in his place came Hughes on his return from injury. Jordan was also given his first start for the team replacing Lewis Wood in midfield.
The opening minutes of the game saw RCA attacking up the slope and as is becoming customary conceded a goal from our corner. In the third minute Callen forced a corner kick after a good left wing run, Brown took the corner which was easily defended at the near post and the clearance landed at the feet of Garthwaite who was allowed to run unchallenged for 40 yards before squaring the ball to the unmarked Conor Winter and the ex-RCA striker slotted home from 12 yards out.
Newton Aycliffe to hang onto the lead for three minutes. RCA were awarded a freekick on the right, Bythway tried to slip the ball to Hughes, but Mitton read the intent but miscued his clearance and Bythway at the second attaempt threaded the ball through to Hughes and the striker flicked the ball over James Winter's head and into the net.
Seven minutes gone and 1-1, what a start from two teams who have found scoring difficult recently.
The game became tense and srappy with some mistimed tackles going unpunished by the officials, in the 11th minute Banks picked the ball up on the left, slipped past a defender before sending in a cross to the edge of the box where Conor Winter was storming in but he mis hit his shot straight at Carmichael.
At the other end a good run by Charlton ended with the winger send in a perfect cross to Hughes who controlled the ball before sending ijn a terrific shot which James Winter was only able to parry away, Mitton cleared the danger.
As the game deteriorated as a spectacle and the tackling became fiercer it was apparent that neither team were willing to give up the midfield without a battle and that's what the crowd got.
There could so easily have been two red cards and six or seven bookings. Had the first serious foul been dealt with a bit more consistently then the game would have got back on track earlier.
Aycliffe were the first to calm down and start playing football and it was another good run by Mitton who produced a stnning ball across the face of the goal but there was no one on hand to tap home.
On the half hour mark RCA were unlucky not to go in front, when a fluent move down the left saw Bythway and Callen combine before Callen was fouled, Bythway took the freekick sent a lovely cross to the far post where Wray headed inches wide of the post.
Aycliffe went straight down the other end where Boagey controlled the ball well before setting up Young who sent in a terrific shot on the turn which flew over the bar.
After a couple of niggly fouls, RCA had a freekick on the left, Bythway sent in a cross which Callen deflected into the path of Hughes his shot was blocked by Maddison and fell to Charlton who fired wide.
As the half ended, a long ball from Brown into the penalty area seemed to be handled by an Aycliffe defender, but the referee only awarded a corner.
With the advantage of the slope RCA started to drive forward at the start of the second period , however when we do this we leave opening at the back.
Both teams were now relying on the long ball and any coherent midfield play was lost. RCA did win a number of corners but in Maddison and Mitton Aycliffe had players who were well capable of dealing with everything that RCA threw at them.
As the game wore on the pressure mounted and once again the match became very scrappy, then in the 70th minute Aycliffe has a golden opportunity to settle the match as a cross in from Banks was not cleared properly and fell to Hinchley on the edge of the box but the Aycliffe substitute blasted the ball well wide of the target.
Two minutes later and RCA thought they had taken the lead a cross into the box by Callen was headed backwards by Maddison and the ball fell to Charlton who drilled in a low cross which Was deflected into the net by an Aycliffe defender only for the goal to be disallowed for offside. (Apparently our new centre forward Smart, who hadn't touched the ball since his introduction was interfering with play?).
Then Aycliffe missed the chance of the match when he miskicked a shot from two yards out and the ball fell into the arms of Carmichael.
After that the game degenerated into something of a farce with Aycliffe looking to waste time and RCA not able to break down a very well organised defence.
At the end RCA can count themselves unlucky to have only come away with a draw but once again we were the victims of some weird and wonderful decisions by the referees,
However, there are signs that we are a lot stronger than we were a month ago.
We remain unbeaten at home under the new management team and need to build on that for the remainder of the season.
Next up is Newcastle Benfield FC at home.