Saturday, 6 February 2010

skilltrainingltd Northern League Division 2

Sunderland RCA were made to work hard today by a well organised and very spirited Thornaby side. A goal from man of the match Darren Kokes in the 44th minutes settled the match and gave RCA all three points.

A minutes silence for the late Mr Gordon Nicholson was impeccably observed prior to the match.

Thornaby took advantage of the slope in the first half and immediately showed their intention with some slick attacking moves which had the RCA defence rocking. Gibson was the first with a shot which went narrowly wide before Fox mishit a shot from 12 yards out which went yards wide. RCA weathered the early pressure and responded with a shot from Kokes, which the keeper was pleased to see go wide. This was end-to-end football with both teams looking to go forward at every opportunity. Whilst the quality was not always evident you could not question the commitment of both teams.

RCA should have taken the lead when a a great run from Ascherl ended with a lovely cross into the path of McBryde, but his effort, with only the keeper to beat, was well wide of the upright. Thornaby went down the other end and a cross from Moore found Gibson unmarked in the box, but his downward header from two yards out was cleared off the line by Henderson. A minute later and a run and shot from Fox, who could have put Crossen through on goal had he looked up, went well wide. Five minutes later and Kokes rattled the bar after some excellent work on the left by Mcbryde.

Only a great last gasp tackle from Pearson stopped a certain RCA goal when Kokes was sent clear by Ascherl. Within a minute Davis went on a surging 40 yard run which ended in him crossing for Davison who headed over. RCA were, at this point, starting to get on top of the game and Thornaby were forced to defend.

In the final minute of the half Ascherl again sent Kokes clear of the Thornaby defence and this time he made no mistake with a beautiful lob over the keeper.

The second half saw RCA pressuring the Thornaby defence for long periods. A cross from McBryde was headed goalward by Davison but was cleared off the line by Pearson. Kokes, who was showing his class, was a constant thorn in the side of a well organised Thornaby defence. He was unlucky with a shot that was deflected wide and from the resulting corner Ascherl’s shot went narrowly wide.

Thornaby responded with a quick counter attack and Gibson forced a corner which was headed over.

Pearson and Bishop for Thornaby were performing heroics in keeping the RCA attack at bay and were pleased to see a surging run by Kokes end with a shot which struck the post.

Thornaby had only their second real chance of the second half when substitute Abdullah played in Gibson and from inside the box; he blasted his shot across goal but wide of the post.

For all their domination in the second half RCA could not break down the Thornaby defence and the match ended 1-0.

Wednesday, 10 February 2010

skilltrainingltd Northern League Division 2

Sunderland RCA kept their title dreams alive with a wonderful second half display which netted a hat trick for leading scorer Mark Davison.

Bottom of the table Birtley Town started the game well kicking down the slope and soon had RCA in trouble with a well worked move between Moat and Peterson resulted in the latter firing wide.

In the fifth minute RCA were awarded a corner and the resulting kick saw Hall power a header over the bar.

Birtley came back and were awarded a freekick on the edge of the box after a strong challenge from Hall. Peterson's shot was deflected for a corner. From this corner RCA countered and a through ball from Ascherl found Kokes inside the box; he looked to have gone round Hunter, the Birtley keeper, but somehow as Kokes fired in his shot Hunter managed to grab the ball - a brilliant save keeping the score level.

RCA mounted a bit of pressure and within the space of two minutes had great opportunities to score. First, Davis skipped past two defenders but his cross was too good for everyone and then Jones burst into the box only to be denied by a late lunge from Scott.

Birtley had a penalty appeal turned down when Roseby was brought down on the edge of the box, but the referee only awarded a freekick which was poorly taken.

RCA finished the half strongly and Ascherl was unlucky with a snap shot from a Davis cross which went over the bar.

The second half saw RCA start with more purpose, Coghlan firing over as early as the third minute. RCA took the lead after 50 minutes when a cross from Davies found Davison free inside the box and he was able to lob Hunter from 12 yards out.

Within five minutes it was 2 - 0 when Davis went on a mazy run before passing to Kokes who crossed the ball into the path of Davison who guided it past Hunter for his second.

Both teams continued to attack and had chances to score but failed to make either keeper make a save until the 75th minute when a screamer from Nugent looked to be heading into the top corner, however Hoggeth somehow managed to get a hand on the ball and turn it over the bar for a corner. Birtley, sensing a goal piled forward, but RCA managed to scramble the ball clear.

McBryde was unlucky when a header from a Davis corner went narrowly over the bar.

In the 82nd minute a surging run by Ascherl was abruptly ended when he was fouled 25 yards from goal. Up stepped Davison to rifle the ball home for his hat trick to make it 3-0.

Within a minute it really should have been 4-0 when McBryde squared the ball to Taylor inside the six yard box and he somehow blasted the ball over the bar.

Don't be surprised to see Steve Bruce at our next match with six clean sheet in a row in the league and unbeaten since November, he might need some tips from Mr Hixon.

Saturday, 13 February 2010

skilltrainingltd Northern League Division 2

Sunderland RCA suffered only their third defeat of the season at the hands of a very hard working and organised Whickham team, but it could have been so different if they had been able to convert any of about five chances in the first 20 minutes.

Sunderland RCA started this game on fire putting Whickham under pressure from the off. A Stewart cross after four minutes found Kokes, but he steered his shot wide of the upright. A Davison shot which looked destined for the net was saved by Robinson at the expense of a corner and Stewart's corner kick was headed over by Hall.

Whickham counterattacked through Swanson, but Jones was equal to the task and set up another RCA attack, a superb pass found Ascherl just inside the box who in turn found Stewart who tried to cut the ball back into the path of Davison, but the ball was cleared. In making this pass Stewart was injured and had to be replaced.

This gave Whickham the chance to start again and as RCA's game became narrow they were able to cope easily with most of RCA's game play and towards the end of the half put RCA under pressure with a series of dead ball situations where Patterson went close with a low shot.

The second half was a very even affair with both teams attacking whenever possible.

In the 63rd minute RCA looked to have broken the deadlock when Davison rattled in a shot from 10 yards out after some good link up play. The goal was ruled out when the assistant referee ruled that Davis had handled the ball in the box when it was clearly the hand of Wilkinson the Whickham defender.

With 12 minutes remaining Whickham took the lead. Robson evaded two challanges before drilling the ball low into the bottom corner. RCA responded with two great efforts, Davison inside the box turned and fired in but Robinson was equal to the task. In the final minutes Robinson produced another top draw save from Davison turning the shot round the post.

Whickham held out for a well fought win although RCA can feel agrieved not to have at least come away with a point.

Saturday, 20 February 2010

skilltrainingltd Northern League Division 2

Sunderland RCA recalled Paul Wardle, Scott Richards and Sean Davies into the first eleven and the effect was immediate with RCA almost back to their early season best. In the first 20 minutes they tore the heart out of Guisborough scoring three fantastic goals and the game was killed off.

An amazing start to this game saw RCA take the initiative as early as the second minute when a pass from McBryde found Ascherl free on the edge of the box and he delicately curled the ball into the top corner with Escritt rooted to the spot. Two minutes later and a shot from Kokes was turned away for a corner and and from McBryde's kick Hall powered in a header which rattled the bar.

Davison made the score 2-0 with a spectacular overhead kick which left Escritt helpless as it hit the net. RCA were rampant at this point and Guisborough were unable to cope with the constant pressure. A good run by Kokes beat two players before he passed to Ascherl who fired narrowly wide from 18 yards.

In the 15th minute RCA effectively sealed the win with a superb lobbed shot from Richards who received the ball 25 yards out before unleashing the dipping effort which gave Escritt no chance.

Guisborough did not give up and a lovely pass fron Portas found Onions in space, but Hoggeth closed him down and his shot drifted wide of the upright. RCA, though, were in command and were looking to increase their lead and only some excellent defending from Butterworth prevented McBryde from scoring. Towards the end of the first half Guisborough started to get to grips with the midfield, but they were not creating any chances as RCA restricted them to long range efforts.

In the last minute of the first half Guisborough were awarded a free kick, which was crossed into the box by Roberts but was easily dealt with by Hall.

The second half saw a much improved performance from Guisborough, with Portas and Onions posing a threat, but they were still unable to fashion a worthwhile effort on goal. At the other end Kokes was unlucky with and effort that was deflected wide for a corner and Hall once again headed the corner high over the bar.

Portas and Roberts combined for Guisborough and Roberts' shot had Hoggeth scrambling to make the save.

In the 70th minute it looked certain that RCA would increase their lead when a quick one-two between Jones and McBryde found Jones inside the six yard box, but his shot was brilliantly saved by Escritt.

Inside the last five minutes and Escritt was well beaten by a McBryde thunderbolt, but the ball rebounded off the post to safety.

In the final minute Harrison Davies, who had been extremely quiet all game, put in a telling cross but both onions and Roberts missed the ball.

RCA back to their best in the first 20 minutes and able to keep yet another clean sheet.