Northern League

Saturday, 3 March 2007

Sunderland RCA slumped to a second consecutive 1 0 defeat in the Arngrove Northern League against a determied Hebburn Town sided.

Luck was right out for us as we struck the uprights and bar no fewer than five times during the match.

RCA started at 100 miles an hour and threatened to overwhelm Hebburn in the first quarter, one tremendous effort from Dean Fox thundering off the bar, but decent goalkeeping and the thickness of the framework kept us out, and the scores somehow level until the break.

To be fair Hebburn played a much stronger hand in the second period, but the majority of chances fell to RCA again, with the woodwork, goal line clearances, solid keeping and plain bad luck frustrating us time and time again. Inevitably Hebburn took the lead after 65 minutes from a free kick which came back off keeper Niki Lawson, and try as we did, we could not find the leveler.

Ernest Armstrong Memorial Cup

Tuesday, 6 March 2007

Great disappointment as RCA's last chance of silverware vanished on Tuesday night, courtesy of a lack lustre display in a 1 0 home defeat to Guisborough Town in the quarter final of the Ernest Armstrong Cup.

In a scrappy game, the North Yorkshiremen scored the only goal by way of a first half own goal, which summed the game up. This was our third 1 - 0 defeat in a row, but by far the worst performance in recent weeks.

10 league games left to get back to some real form and push up the table, and a big effort will be needed as we are not safe yet!

Northern League

Saturday, 10 March 2007

After the very disappointing display midweek against Guisborough the lads put in a vastly improved performance away to Penrith on Saturday, and were desperately unlucky not to come away with all three points. Despite the long trip RCA turned up at Penrith in good time, and with a good turn out of players and officials, reflecting well on the club, but with Marcel Lundy and Danny Haley noticeable absentees through injury and work commitments, although the unexpected return of Stu Dixon was a bonus.

RCA started strongly and could have scored in the first minute as a Jon Butler effort was cleared off the line. The lads continued to press and got their reward when we took the lead in the 30th minute as Andy "Scally" Allen capitalised on a weak clearance by the keeper to bring the ball under instant control and lob into an empty net from 30 yards. By half time the lead should have been more than one, and the pressure continued into the second half as Penrith struggled to get out of their half. When it looked as if one would be enough a 75th minute Penrith breakaway left goalkeeper Nick Lawson stranded on the edge of his box as a Penrith cross was unluckily turned into his own net by Si Andrews, who otherwise was RCA man of the match with a powerful display in defence.

Penrith got a lift from the goal and the last 15 minutes was end to end and included some narrow escapes for the RCA goal, notably a brilliant goal line block by Anth Laidler. A point was what we had to settle for, all three would have been fairer, but the display will have given manager Steve Smith heart for the vital last few games ahead.

Northern League

Wednesday, 14 March 2007

A tight and scrappy game at Brandon, settled by a single goal for the home team late on in the second half. We didn't play well but could and should have got something from the game.

It seems like our goals have dried up at present, we need to get back on the scoring trail sooner rather than later as we move into the end of the season.

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.

Northern League

Saturday, 24 March 2007

A below par performance at Stokesley, with an injury hit team, both before and during the match, failing to defend with the quality we have been showing for the past few weeks. After 30 minutes with the team 3 0 down and both Paul Moss and Stu Dixon injured, things looked very bleak indeed. Amazingly though we pulled ourselves together a bit and a great effort by Jon Butler followed by an opportunist goal by Willie Crew got us right back in the match at the break.

The first 20 minutes of the second half was our best spell of the game, and several good efforts could have brought reward. Sadly it was not to be as Stokesley broke well and added two more before time. Six games to go and a real show of determination needed by everybody connected with the club. Post mortems can wait until May, right now we need everyone pulling together to pick up some vital points, come on!!!

Northern League

Saturday, 31 March 2007

Yet another game where our failure to take chances has cost us points.

We more than matched Thornaby throughout the game, hitting the bar and bringing an excellent save from the keeper within the first ten minutes, but couldn't hit the back of the net, and it always looked as if the game might end goalless, and so it proved.

Even more frustrating in the second half as chances went begging throughout. John Butler pulled wide when through on goal, and Andy Allen shot straight at the keeper when he looked sure to score.

Thornaby had their own moments, but we were the better side and should have won.

Overall a good solid performance with good effort and determination, without that vital spark which seems to have left us at the tail end of the season. Five big games to go, starting at Whickham on Tuesday night.