Match reports

Saturday, 5 October 2013

EBAC Northern League Division 1

RCA were on their travels again, this time down the A19 to Billingham Town FC who are languishing at the bottom of the table with no points from nine games, although a narrow defeat by West Auckland in midweek will have lifted their confidence.

With all the comings and goings in the last few weeks the team was once again changed for this match and it is as well to just list the team rather than go through the changes: Carmichael, Aaron Brown, Harrison, Horsman, Summers, Edwards, Fryatt, Jury, Barton, Home-Jackson, Morris. Subs: Clough, Andrew Brown, Wilson, Henderson, Hassan.

A beautiful autumn day greeted the teams as they walked onto the pitch.

Tuesday, 1 October 2013

EBAC Northern League Division 1

Goalscorers:  Ashington: Johnson (2), Taylor, Walton.  SRCA: None 

Once again RCA have been hit by injuries, Horsman was admitted to hospital on Sunday and Callaghan has a groin injury. Henderson and Home-Jackson took their place in the starting line up. Further problems were to follow in the warm up with Shields pulling up with an ankle injury and being replaced by Fryatt. 

Not ideal preparation for a match against an Ashington team who had won their last four matches.

Aaron Brown defends successfully in the first half of the match.

Saturday, 28 September 2013

EBAC Northern League Division 1

Please click here for photos from the match.

The injury problems continue to blight the season with Andrew Brown suffering a hamstring injury and Scott Richards out with a dead leg. Liam Clough declared himself fit while Wayne Henderson was unavailable due to work commitments.

There was also the shock news that the manager Neil Hixon had stepped down from his position as manager after six years in change and whilst remaining at the club it would be in an advisory capacity on the committee. Head coach George Herd has at the same decided to retire at the tender age of 77. A press release will be issued shortly regarding this matter.

The new joint management team of David Lee and Stephen Halliday was forced to make changes for the match today. Aaron Brown returned to right back and Kris Summers was recalled to fill in the vacancy left by Henderson. Upfront Kyle Morris was preferred to Home-Jackson and John Jury moved back into a central midfield position.

Wednesday, 25 September 2013

EBAC Northern League Division 1

Goalscorers:  Newton Aycliffe: Owens, Lambert SRCA: Barton

SRCA gave a debut to new signing Philip Horsman and recalled Scott Richards to the team for this important League match against Newton Aycliffe FC. Matches against these two teams are always tight affairs and this one was no exception.

Newton Aycliffe as expeted were the first on the attack with Owen cutting in from the left before unleashing a shot which took a deflection and went for a corner.

Sunday, 22 September 2013

Durham County Sunday Cup - 2nd Preliminary Round

RCA Grangetown Florists easily went through to the third preliminary round of the County Sunday Cup with a straightforward victory over Stockton League opponents Port Clarence by a 7-1 scoreline.

RCA Florists got off the mark quickly after four minutes when Steve Clark hit home from close range and goals followed at regular intervals with a further four coming before half time, with Martin Metcalfe helping himself to another hat trick and Graham Thornton tapping in from a Metcalfe cross.

RCA Florists struck after only three minutes of the second half through Scott Kelly and although Port Clarence grabbed a goal on 70 minutes, man of the match Metcalfe had the last word five minutes before time when he slotted home from close range for his fourth and RCA Florists' seventh.

Captain Gavin Barton leaps high to head the first of his two first half goals.

Saturday, 21 September 2013

FA Vase 2nd Qualifying Round

Goal Scorers: TN: Watling, Colvin:  SRCA: Barton (2), Thompson and Morris.

Please click here for photos from the match.

After the mid-week capitulation at the hands of Morpeth RCA were again in cup action this time the FA Vase and a welcome return to fitness of a few of our players: Liam Clough, Kyle Morris, Wayne Henderson and Stuart Thompson have been out with long term injuries while Kris Summers, Andrew Brown and Josh Home-Jackson were declared fit after receiving knocks in the mid week encounter.

So it was a much revamped team that took the field at Coach Lane. The line up: Jameson, Jury, Clough, Henderson, Summers,  Brown (Andrew),  Thompson, Edwards, Barton, Home-Jackson and Callaghan: Subs from: Hassan, Halliday, Morris, Brown (Aaron), McEvoy.

The game got off to an explosive start as Team Northumbria surged forward from the kick off and a weighted ball from Sayer found Chippendale who crossed into the area for Watling to volley past the outstretched arm of Jameson; the goal was tmed at 27 seconds.

This set the standard for the rest of the match as both teams decided that attack was the best form of defence. Edwards picked up a loose ball in midfield, brought Thompson into the move with a great ball, the RCA winger cut inside before crossing but Jennison plucked the ball off the head of Barton.

Wednesday, 18 September 2013

Brooks Mileson Memorial League Cup

Scorers: Morpeth: Anderson 3, Taylor 2, Chilton 2  SRCA: Logan

RCA started this game with only one change to the team that lost to Billingham Town on Saturday, Andrew Brown starting the game and Halliday moving to an unaccustomed central defensive role in place of Paul Wardle who has left the club to take up an asistant management job at Washington FC.

5 - 0 down inside 40 minutes showed up the problems that have beset RCA this season that of allowing crosses into the penalty area without any pressure on the ball.

Apologies to all Morpeth fans who read this, but I was unable to ascertain from anyone on the night the order in which the goalscorers scored, this was my best shot.