Tuesday, 20 April 2010
Sunderland Sunday League
RCA The Barnes began their arduous run in towards the end of the season with a 2 - 0 win over Redhouse CIU to keep their Championship hopes alive.
RCA made a couple of positional changes to the side because of work commitments and injuries with Dan Smith coming into the left side of midfield and Gary Tyzack returning up front alongside Andy Place. Redhouse also fielded a very strong starting eleven incliding Stephen Lewis and ex-RCA youngster Mark Robinson.
RCA started the game kicking down the slope and the early exchanges were fairly even with both sides playing attractive possession football and keeping the game at a good pace. After 15 minutes however Redhouse were caught square on the half way line and a quick through ball released Gary Tyzack clear on goal and he duly advanced on keeper Shaun Robinson and slotted home to his right to give RCA the lead. Redhouse responded and RCA keeper Atkinson had to be at his best on two occassions, the first blocking with his feet and the second tipping a header onto the crossbar before Liam Dunn completed the clearance. RCA then had to replace Paul Hartley, due to injury, with Andy Gilbert coming on to play wide right. RCA also had another two good chances to increase their lead, both falling to Tyzack again. Both times he was released by through balls, but firstly put an effort just wide whilst under pressure from a defender and secondly bringing a good save from keeper Robinson, to give a half time score of 1 - 0 to RCA.
The second half saw Redhouse start to dominate and again RCA keeper Atkinson had to produce a finger tip save round the post to prevent Redhouse from equalising. RCA then replaced a tiring Tyzack with returning from injury Willie Crew on the hour mark and then produced a goal out of nothing when a long clearance up field from keeper Atkinson was challenged for by Andy Place. When he got the better of the defender he raced clear wide left and advanced into the penalty box and despatched a cool finish from an acute angle to give RCA some breathing space at 2 - 0 ahead and 20 minutes to go.
The last stages of the game were played out quite comfotably by RCA with Glenn Moan replacing Callum Charlton at right back for the last 10 minutes to give RCA a well deserved and hard fought 2 - 0 victory.
They come hard and fast now and nothing will be harder than RCA's next encounter, which is against current league leaders Hastings Athletic, who have only dropped three points in the league this season. That’s this Thursday, 22 April at Herrington Burn YMCA with a 6:30 pm KO. Should be a good game.