Match reports

26 February 2012

EBAC Northern League Division 1

Goalscorers: Celtic Nation: Archibald, Skinner,  SRCA: Kane.

The long trip to Celtic Nation produced no points for RCA but the team did show signs of improvement with a strong defensive performance.

It could be argued that the goals could have been prevented but all three goals in this match would have been worthy of winning any other Northern League fixture.

Sunday, 24 February 2013

Joe Holborn Memorial Trophy

RCA Grangetown Florists progressed to a semi-final meeting with Paragon by virtue of this comfortable 4-1 victory over a spirited Steels outfitit in the Joe Holborn Memorial Trophy. With the pitch in remarkably good condition RCA Florists started kicking down the slope and were quickly into their stride, missing a couple of great openings when one on one with the keeper. But Steels net minder Craig Jeffries made the first of his numerous good stops to thwart RCA Florists efforts until the 20th minute when Martin Metcalfe broke through and scored off the left hand post post despite another half stop from Jeffries.

19 February 2013

League Cup 3rd Round

Goalscorers: Durham : Hotchkiss, P Dixon:  SRCA: Guering-Lokonga, Clarke, J Dixon.

RCA made one change from the team that won so convincingly at the weekend, with Scott Richards missing through work committments and only expected to get to the game for the half time interval, Carl Beasley was drafted in to replace him.

A steady drizzle fell throughout the night but did not dampen the performances of both teams on the pitch. RCA started like a house on fire when in the opening minute a slide rule pass from Marron found Guerin-Lokonga in space on the right wing; his measured cross was met by Clarke who looked to steer it into the back of the net, but Young managed to get a hand to it and the ball went behind for a corner despite the lunge of Dixon ghosting in at the back post who was inches away from opening the scoring.

Goal scorer Jamie Clarke holds the ball up at the end of the match with captain Brian Close available for support.

16 February 2013

Northern League Division 1

Goalscorers: Guerin-Lokonga, Clarke and Cutts

Please click here for photos from the match.

Despite going a goal behind early on RCA eventually won quite comfortably on a beautiful day in Norton. RCA dominated the game from start to finish and could, and probably should, have won by a goal or two more. The only real disappointment on the day was the price of the beer in the Norton clubhouse, £3.29 for a pint of Carling!

The other major concern was the fact that RCA could name only two subs, due to injury and absence for various reasons. Now that the weather appears to have cleared up and we can expect to be playing at least twice a week from now to the end of the season, it seems as if further reinforcements are bound to be needed.

The first of those reinforcements, Jordan Dixon, just signed from Durham, made a very pleasing debut, showing good pace and skill out wide, and might have marked his first appearance with a goal, before having to be satisfied with an assist. At the other end of the age and experience scale Scott Richards was man of the match for your correspondent, being the pick of an excellent midfield three, with Elliott Cutts and skipper Brian Close also performing very well. The back four looked solid, with Ross Preston and recent signing Tom Marron developing a good understanding after some early alarms, and Buzzeo and McGuinness were very solid at full back, apart from one eccentric throw in from "Buzzer" which caused his team mates some concern. Up front Jamie Clarke and Aris Guerin-Lokonga were lively all afternoon. RCA's second goal, with Aris beating his man out wide and sending in an excellent cross for Clarke to score with a spectacular overhead kick was probably the pick of the goals on the day for the spectators, although their first, finished from close range by Aris after a lovely passing move, was one for the football purists. Craig Shields in goal was competent on the few occasions he was called into action, but mostly enjoyed the sunshine.

RCA forward Aristote Guerin-Lokonga contests the ball in the first half of the match.

9 February 2013

EBAC Northern League Division 1

Please click here for photos from the match.

Please click here for Sky Tyne and Wear match video.

Sunderland RCA went to Newcastle Benfield and for the second time this season they were facing a Benfield team with a new manager, Steve Bowey and Gareth McAlindeon taking charge of their first game.

RCA gave league debuts to Thomas Marron and Patrick McClean, younger brother of James McClean the Sunderland AFC winger.

It was to be an inauspicious debut for McClean as he limped out of the game after 15 minutes with a dead-leg sustained in the 10 minute. Marron on the other hand gave a man of the match display.

If possession won you games then RCA would have won this game handsomely, unfrotunately being unable to convert possession into goals has been our downfall all season and when things are not going well we revert to the Wimbledon "lump it and see" method of attack which most defences in this league can cope with easily.

05 February 2013

Durham Challenge Cup 2nd Round

Goalscores:  SRCA  Clarke:   Bishops:  Johnson 2  Jardine

The long awaited Durham Challenge Cup match eventually took place after 4 postponements and on a very heavy pitch both teams produced some decent football in the first half.

However, RCA decided not to turn up for the second half and were totally over run by a rampant Bishop outfit. The second half was a defensive nightmare, from tha moment that Kane was replaced by Monson RCA struggled to get to grips with Bishops as they stormed forward at will.

New signing Jamie Clarke is tracked by Durham City and ex-RCA defender James Oates in the first half of the match.

Saturday, 2 February 2013

EBAC Northern League Division 1

Please click here for photos from the match.

Please click here for Zoe Vicarage's photos from the match.

The Durham City perspective is here.

A 10.ooam inspection of the pitch was positive and the efforts of John Anderson, Dave Hill and Graham Defty were rewarded with our first match since the away defeat to Newton Aycliffe FC on 12 January 2013. Although the playing surface was very soft in places and liable to cut up.

The return of Ross Preston meant that the back four had a familiar ring to it, however the same cannot be said of the midfield as Kane was swithched inside and Monson and Rivers took on the roles of wide men.

RCA also gave a debut to Jamie Clarke partnering Guerin-Lokonga up front.

Durham City included in their squad Ex RCA player James Oates while RCA boasted at least 3 ex Durham City players in theirs. 

Although the state of the pitch was obviously going to play a part in the quality of football, the players started the match trying to play good football.