FA Carlsberg Sunday Cup
16 November 2008 at Seaham Red Star
RCA The Barnes progressed into the last 32 of the National Sunday FA Cup competition with a hard fought and battling 2-1 victory over a very strong Dawdon CW team at Seaham Red Star's ground on Sunday.
The match took place in almost perfect conditions on an excellent playing surface. RCA started strongly keeping possession early on and gaining confidence. As the half progressed Dawdon began to gain more control and kept the ball whilst not creating any definite openings until RCA keeper Chris Errington had to save smartly from a long range effort. RCA central defenders Curtis and Hall were in excellent form and consistently snuffed out any half chances created by Dawdon, whilst being ably supported by full backs Surtees and Hughes.
After 30 minutes RCA started to get a bit more ball and a good move started down the right flank by Surtees was carried on by Willie Crew who passed the ball across the area to the far corner were Andy Gilbert laid it off for the late arriving Martin Metcalfe to control and strike a perfect low shot into the keeper's right hand corner giving him no chance of saving. 1-0 to RCA.
The rest of the first half ran its course with neither side being able to create any more worthwhile chances, to give a ht score of 1-0 to RCA.
Dawdon started the second half on the front foot and pressurised RCA from the off with the midfield of Metcalfe, Hartley, Teasdale and young Mark Robinson having to put in double shifts to compete with the increasingly dominant Dawdon. Chris Errington then produced another top drawer save after an hour, tipping over a powerfull close range header and again Curtis and Hall had to be at their best to keep the sprightly Dawdon forwards at bay. RCA were now restricted to playing on the break and with Robinson now pushed up front after the substitution of an injured Gilbert by Gary Tyzack, they kept Dawdon's back line on their toes whilst having the odd half chance. However with the increasing pressure the RCA defence were for once found wanting on 83 minutes when a long diagonal ball from right back cleared the right hand side of the RCA back line and Chapman took the ball down expertly on his chest to rifle in from 15 yards: an excellent goal.
RCA then sent on Matty Stevens for Teasdale. The home crowd were expecting Dawdon to carry on and no doubt get a winner, but that was forgetting the indomitable spirit of this young, committed RCA outfit who never know when to quit. On 87 minutes they broke through the inside right channel and top scorer Willie Crew advanced on goal only for the Dawdon keeper to make a good block. However the ball rebounded out to 25 yards from goal in a central position and 16 year old Mark Robinson became the match winner when he picked his spot and stroked the ball home into the top left hand corner of the net despite the efforts of Dawdon's last in line defender.