Under 18s - League Cup
Saturday, 15 November 2008
After the East End had beaten us 2-1 at Meadow Park in the Lady Eden Cup last week changes were made as SRCA looked for their first ever away win against the strong Newcastle outfit. The stakes were a little higher this week as a semi final spot in the League Cup was up for grabs.
Sweeper Alan Tench was moved from his customary sweeper role into centre midfield, while Luke Page was pushed up front so that his physical presence might unsettle the home side. Well the RCA boys showed their intentions from the off and were out of the traps quickly closing down the opposition in all areas with fast flowing football that set the style for the day. After winning a succession of corners and free kicks it was no surprise on 15 minutes when the ball was crossed, cleared to just outside the box when Alan Tench stuck the ball sweetly which the keeper got fingertips to but could not stop. 1 - 0: Tench's first for the club ... and what a smile.
East End now knew they were in for a real match and having raised their game they equalised on 25 minutes, a ball down the left crossed in and despatched in style from 10 yards. However this did not slow down the RCA impetus and the domination continued when Luke Page cut in down the right, raced in to the box and fired a cross-cum-shot, which the covering defender could do nothing about. 2-1. Again no sitting back as the lads hunted the ball down and then came the goal of the season so far. Every RCA player seemed to be involved before Chris Bailey and Tench exchanged passes to Page; the ball was hit out to the left and Mark Robinson whipped the cross from the left to the far side where Page who had raced in volleyed from 15 yards, the ball rocketing off the underside of the bar, over the line before bouncing upwards to still bulge the net. Well the celebrations said it all. 3 - 1 to RCA. The game was nearly all over when Lee Andrews right on half time, closed defenders down then raced to close the keeper down, winning the ball then spinning to shoot towards the goal, but the ball went agonisingly into the side netting.
No team talk at half time was necessary and the away side lined up ready to kick off with the East End lads looking on, still shell-shocked. The second half was little different to the first: no sitting back and at them again. Lee Andrews in an identical situation to the one before half time chased the ball down, stopped the keeper's clearance and spun with aplomb despatching the ball to make it 4-1 on 55 minutes. No way back for the East End now and definitely game over. The back four of Dunn, Ashman, Jacobs and Gamble were strong, feeding the wide midfielders, Robinson and Nicholson, with plenty of the ball. Tench and captain Bailey then raised the bar further with quality central midfield interplay and good moves were finished off twice by Bailey on 75 and 80 minutes, registering his first goals for the club. 6 - 1.
Although East End registered a late consolation to make the final score 6 - 2, nothing could spoil our day: an outstanding performance. All the players would have scored 8.5 from 10, all men of the match, but captain Chris Bailey edged it. A league cup semi-final to look forward to, but I can tell you now this first ever win at East End is definitely one to remember.
Looks like Walker Central or Gateshead Redheugh away in the semi but on today's performance,they are in for what should be a terrific cup tie.
Team
1 Ryan Graham
2 Anthony Gamble
3 Liam Dunn
4 Mick Jacob
5 Anthony Ashman
6 Alan Tench
7 Mick Nicholson
8 Chris Bailey
9 Luke Page
10 Lee Andrews
11 Mark Robinson
12 Damien Knight - 80 mins for 10
13 Marc Moon - 70 mins for 7
14 Matty Reynolds - 85 mins for 11
15 Billy Hedgley
16 Graeme Pickering
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