View from the Cemetery

A fair bit of damage to the stands and a few ad boards knocked off, but overall it looks like Sunderland LGV Park got off lightly in Storm Arwen compared to some fellow Northern League clubs. Especially given the multi talented and hard working ground staff we have. Or Dave, George, Graham and Norman as they are better known. Top class operatives, if a little on the aged side. And even better they work very cheap ...

Your heart goes out to those who have suffered more, with Boldon CA and Chester-le-Street Town among those worst hit. Two clubs who have put a tremendous amount of work into their grounds in recent months and years. Must be heart breaking for them, but a lot of good lads, there, and across the league, who will set to and get it sorted. Best of luck to them, and it seems like the Football Foundation is willing to help, which is good news.

A week off for us after the Whitley Bay game was postponed in the aftermath of the storm, and the Bay were obviously very shook up as they got well and truly tonked at Newton Aycliffe during the week. Might have been a good time to play them. But I don’t think it will do us any harm to have a week or two off anyway. We have pulled ourselves into a respectable position and have the chance to crack on now, and a breather to sort a few injuries and absences before next year won’t come in wrong I reckon. Three weeks gap over Christmas and New Year is a first mind.

A clean sheet no less, ending a little run of low scoring games. A very good and welcome change that, after the previous few weeks of multi goal extravaganzas. And very well deserved.

A fullish squad, excellent team defending from start to finish, with good shape, as the coaches say, and everybody working hard from front to back. West Auckland are a very good side and, on the evidence of last weeks games, and despite the results, probably a little bit better than Consett. I thought we were the better side throughout against Consett, while at West we needed to dig in and defend for some considerable spells. Not that our new keeper had many saves to make. A couple, and some excellent catching and punching, but credit to the lads in front of him who protected him well. Overall we had the better of the chances, could have scored at least another, but had to settle for Mark Davison’s superb volley to finish off a lovely move from box to box.

Anyway, into the top half of the table, though the hard work starts now to stay there. Never want to be looking downover rather than up. Still, decent progress being made. More than a little bit annoying though to think what might have been with a little better run of the ball, and that's not allowing for our injuries, which have been continuous. Thornaby the other week, Redcar Athletic a few days before that, and Crook and Penrith a bit earlier. All games we could have won, and a couple we should have won.

The goals continue to flow, but unfortunately at both ends. Not much point me going over this here, read Rob Jones match reports, and the views of our manager in this programme and you will get a sense of how frustrating the last few weeks have been. Narrow wins are exciting, but sadly narrow defeats are just annoying.

Couple of new faces around the place. Chris Winn won’t be unknown to most people, a well established Northern League forward, including from a stint over the cemetery with the CW. A good forward who will be a good addition. Different matter, in terms of being a well known face, with our new goalkeeper on loan from Sunderland, Harrison Bond, who made his debut for us down at Thornaby, and whose picture graces the front cover of the programme. First class moniker for a start. And he certainly looked the part. Big strong, athletic and confident looking lad. Made one very good save, caught crosses well and his kicking was excellent, long and accurate. Actually he didn’t have that much to do. Hopefully he will enjoy his time with us and make a good contribution as well as developing his game. Good luck Mr Bond…

A goal feast at Sunderland LGV Park on Saturday, in a seven goal thriller, and to be fair it looked that way from the start. We scored with our second attack, and a couple of minutes later Billy Town were level. A couple more goals, which might have been more, during the first half made it look reasonably comfortable for RCA, but I’m afraid our undoubted capacity to score is matched, almost, by our capacity to concede.

We sat back a bit and ended up getting deeper and deeper as the second half wore on, until Billingham were deservedly level after 85 minutes. After which of course we bucked our ideas up, had a couple of chances and Sparky notched the winner with a minute or two to go. I must ask somebody to count how many goals we have scored in the last ten minutes of games this season, it feels like a lot. Sometimes decisive and sometimes not, but a useful talent to have up your sleeve. Still points in the bag, and sitting in mid table, not too bad so far.

It feels like our luck with injuries must change at some point, and a settled defence would be a big help.