Saturday, 1 November 2014
FA Vase 1st Round Proper
Goalscorers: SRCA: Austin-Wilson; Handsworth: None
RCA welcomed Handsworth Parramore FC of the North East Counties League to Meadow Park for this First Round tie of the FA Vase.
The visitors, like ourselves, have recently changed managers and are in a period of transistion.
With a number of the first team squad missing the manager gave debuts to our two latest signing and brought into the squad club stalwart Wayne Henderson (16 seasons with the club) for his first appearance of the season. Into the team Richardson, replacing Jury (wife due to give birth), Armstrong, for Hughes (working), Coe, for Charlton (Cup tied) other notable absentes were Barton (injured) and Callen (suspended). The team was as follows:
Carmichael, Richardson, Bythway, Brown, Preston, Armstrong, Stanger, Wood L, Coe, Wood G, McNab: Subs: Austin-Wilson, Morris C, Wray, Henderson D, Henderson W.
The visitors took advantage of the slope in the first half and immediately went on the attack, a cross into the box by Marrison was headed wide by Handsworth’s top scorer Smith.
As the game settled a lovely through ball from Griffith found Fletcher in space on the right edge of the penalty area and he hit a fierce drive which looked to be creeping in at the near post, but Carmichael managed to get across to parry the ball away and Bythway cleared the danger.
At the other end RCA were awarded a freekick on the edge of the area when Armstrong was fouled, Bythway took the kick which smashed against the underside of the bar and the rebound was picked up by Stanger but his effort was blocked by Maxfield.
Handsworth responded to this with a spell of pressure, but their tactic of sending high balls into the box wasn’t effective as Preston and Brown seemed capable of dealing with them.
The game was stopped in the 18th minute due to a serious injury to stand in centre forward Anthony Coe, (later diagnosed as a dislocated shoulder and shoulder ligament damage).
The referee took the players off the field to await an ambulance and sensibly allowing the players a period of time to warm up again before continuing the match after half an hour.
Almost from the restart RCA went on the attack, a through ball from Stanger was met by substitute Austin-Wilson, on for the injured Coe, he skipped past his marker and into the box before firing in a low shot which was blocked. The rebound fell to Armstrong but he couldn’t get enough power in his shot and Lindley was able to pick up the loose ball.
Back came the visitors this time down the left, Maxfield found Tootle with a great ball and the winger cut inside before shooting but Preston was able to block the shot at the expense of a corner. Brown managed to Head the corner clear.
Minutes later and Handsworth were awarded a freekick after a tackle on Tootle, Thompson fired the ball straight into the RCA wall and from the rebound shot well wide of the target.
As the game entered the last ten minutes of the half RCA had an appeal for a penalty turned down when Austin-Wilson picked up a loose ball at the far post and fired in a shot which struck Maxfield on the arm. Both the Referee and the Assistant waved the appeal away. Gary Wood took the corner and Cotterick headed clear.
Handsworth continued to press until the half time whistle, but RCA stayed resolute in defence.
With the advantage of the slope in the second half RCA supporters would have expected their team to pressurise their opponents from the off but it was the visitors who created the first opening of the half. Fletcher sending in a wicked cross which was met by Smith who powered in a header which Carmichael was relieved to see go wide of the target.
RCA eventually got their passing game together and started to make an impression on the Handsworth defence. However the hard working midfield meant that they were restricting the home team long range efforts or over hit passes.
In the 55th minute a through ball from Armstrong was well controlled by Austin-Wilson, but as he cut across the angle of the box he was stopped from shooting by a great tackle by Cotterick.
RCA were being frustrated by Handsworth and as attacks were breaking down they were leaving themselves exposed to quick counter attacks, however the back four of RCA were able to deal effectively with this.
The game was becoming a battle of the midfield with neither team able to gain control.
Then, slightly against the run of play, RCA took the lead, awarded a freekick on the right Stanger took it quickly to Brown who moved the ball forward to Austin-Wilson in space, his first shot was saved by Lindsay, the second from the rebound was blocked by Burrell but at the third attempt he squeezed the ball past the diving Lindsay and into the corner of the net.
Handsworth made a couple of quick substitutions in an attempt to put more firepower up front and it almost worked a high ball into the box from Tootle was headed over the bar by Cardwell.
A minute later and a low cross into the box by Marrison was met by Travis who caught the ball perfectly and with Carmichael beaten the ball rebounded off the bar and fell to a Handsworth player who headed straight into the keepers arms.
With time running out it was nearly all Handsworth as they piled forward looking for and equaliser and it took some heroic efforts by Preston, who was outstanding all afternoon, Bythway and Wray to keep them at bay.
A relieved RCA team, who had given their all, were jubilant at the final whistle.
This was a game where every player on the park gave 100% effort and whilst it might not have been a classically entertaining match it was full of endeavour and enterprise.
On another day RCA might have lost this match but we now have a belief in ourselves, especially at home. Defensively we were excellent today with Ross Preston the pick of the bunch, closely followed by Browny, Lee Bythway and what a baptism of fire for debutants Richardson and Armstrong.
We go again in the Durham Challenge Cup against Stockton Town on Tuesday night.