Saturday, 15 November 2014
EBAC Northern League Division 1
Goalscorers: West: Moffatt (2) Richardson (2)
RCA made the trip to table topping West Auckland Town and were in good spirits after the excellent mid-week performance against Dunston UTS.
Unfortunately Martin Swales missed this one due to sickness which meant that his assistant Gee Errington made the team selection. His job was made more difficult when it was revealed that Brown, Barton, L Wood, G Wood and Austin-Wilson were unavailable and added to that list was Hughes who was declared 80% fit and took his place on the bench.
Into the line-up from the match on Tuesday came, Preston, Armstrong and McNab with Davis pushed forward as the lone striker.
Early pressure by West was easily defended by RCA and in the fifth minute they were awarded a freekick on the edge of the box when Charlton was fouled. Armstrong took the kick but it lacke the power to trouble Lowson in the West goal.
West took the lead in the eighth minute. When Briggs looked to foul McNab, the referee allowed play to continue and Briggs swung in a low ball to Richardson, who controlled the ball before turning and firing in a low shot into the bottom corner of the net.
The game became very scrappy as both teams looked to get to grips with the conditions underfoot.
Another injury blow was dealt to RCA when Charlton, who had looked to be our most dangerous player, was fouled and after lengthy treatment had to leave the field to be replaced by Wayne Henderson.
West lifted the tempo of the game after this and ex-RCA player Brian Close looked to be getting acres of space. In the 35th minute a through ball by Close was met by Francis who burst into the box and it took a great save by Carmichael to stop West going into a 2-0 lead.
Within minutes West were back when Moffatt forced a corner off Bythway. The corner was floated to the near post where Francis headed it on and Carmichael parried it into the path of Richardson who blasted the ball straight at the RCA keeper.
The second half saw RCA push forward and an early chance fell to Davis who clipped a shot across the face of goal, but Galpin managed to get a foot to the ball before Armstrong and Close cleared up field.
Almost immediately West went 2-0 up. A pass was intercepted by Briggs and he sent in a great ball to Richardson who struck the back of the net with Carmichael helpless.
RCA came back this time through Callen who drifted across the bax before shooting low, but Lowson managed to get a hand to the ball and it went agonisingly wide of the upright.
West responded and this time it was another mistake as RCA lost possession in the West half. Briggs again sent a long ball forward toward Moffatt and he needed no second chance as he buried his shot into the bottom corner out of the reach of Carmichael.
RCA continued to go forward and a great move between Richardson and Davis set up Callen on the edge of the box but he could only fire his shot straight at Lowson.
Matty Moffatt completed the scoring in the 75th minute when Close picked out Pattinson on the right wing and he swung in a cross which Moffatt headed powerfully home from inside the six yard box.
Next up is the FA Vase match against North Shields at Meadow Park.