Northern League
Saturday, 17 March 2007
RCA lined up with a severely depleted squad, with Marcel Lundy taking the captain’s armband in the absence of Paul Moss, who was carrying a hamstring injury from the Brandon match.
It was bad start: a Norton cross from the left was side footed past Niki Lawson.
On seven minutes good play from Willie Crew gained RCA a free kick 30 yards out, which was taken by Dean Fox. The ball broke to Jon Butler whose strong shot was blocked by the keeper.
While the opening 10 minutes had been mostly Norton’s, the next period was much better for RCA. A good Dean Fox effort on 13 minutes went just over the bar. On 14 minutes a foul on Jon Butler led to a free kick on the edge of the box. Gary Anderson swung the ball in and it was headed over the bar by a Norton defender. The resulting corner was headed clear for a throw in.
On 17 minutes Jon Butler was tremendously unlucky as his goal-bound header was palmed away by the Norton keeper.
On 20 minutes dean Fox picked up a yellow card, which seemed harsh.
On 24 minutes Marcel Lundy ran across to clear when it looked as though the Norton winger had broken clear on the left.
On 25 minutes there was a flurry of RCA corners. From the first, Jon Butler heaed against the post and the ball was then cleared for another corner. From this one a powerful Dean Fox shot was palmed away for another RCA corner. Unfortunately no one connected with delivery, which sailed across the goal and out.
On 29 minutes Niki Lawson saw some action as he palmed a goal-bound header around the post and collected the subsequent corner kick.
The game was swinging from end to end and on 30 minutes Andy Middleton swung in a free kick, which a Norton defender headed out for a corner under pressure from Jon Butler. On 31 minutes RCA won yet another corner, but he delivery was just too high for Jon Butler who could not head the ball down.
A clever nod on from Willie Crew on 37 minutes created a half chance for Jon Butler whose shot was blocked. Norton cleared the ensuing corner. A minute later, RCA had yet another corner, but could not convert. On 42 minutes Willie Crew clipped wide from a difficult chance.
Half time: RCA were wondering how they could create so much pressure and so many chances, but not score!
The second half began as badly as the first for RCA. A very harsh penalty was awarded against Andy Allen for handball and Norton converted.
On 50 minutes RCA gained a free kick, but the Norton wall did its job.
On 57 minutes Norton were clear on goal and the shot from the left skimmed the post as the forward tried to go inside Niki. On 60 minutes there was another chance for Norton, but it went over the bar. A minute later Niki comfortably saved a Norton free kick conceded by Scott Hembrough.
On 63 minutes Willie Crew knocked the ball through to Scott Hembrough, whose snap shot was saved by the keeper. Two minutes later, Scott tried a long shot, which went just wide of the post.
A Norton handball on the edge of the D on 75 minutes led to a Dean Fox effort, which went just over the bar. Two minutes later the action was at the other end as Niki made a good save from a Norton forward who was clear through on goal.
On 83 minutes Jon Butler had a shot saved.
As RCA pressed they were taking risks at the back and on 85 minutes Norton’s Tyson Masters beat the off-side trap to go through one-on-one with Niki Lawson and rounded him to go on to roll the ball into the unguarded net.
RCA did not give up and on 89 minutes Scott Hembrough produced a promising situation for RCA, but his pass to Jon Butler was short and the ball was cleared by Norton.
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