Sunderland RCA FC 1 West Allotment Celtic 1

Saturday, 9 October 2010

STL Northern League Division 1

Click here a slideshow of photos from the match.

RCA brought in Micky Coghlan for the injured David Duke (knee ligament damage) and Joe Walton returned after suspension.

The story of the match revolved around the penalties one scored by West Allotment and the other missed by RCA.

The game ended in a draw with RCA equalising in the last minute of normal time through a Martin Smith strike from 12 yards.

West Allotment almost took the lead in the opening 30 seconds off this STL Northern League Division 1 match when Hoggeth could only parry a shot from Hamilton into the path of Walton who in turn fired goalwards, but Beasley was on hand to head away for a corner. In the sixth minute a low drive from Buzzeo was pushed round the post by Hoggeth and he came to claim the resulting corner.

RCA came back at West Allotment and a cross from Logan flashed across the box inches in front of the outstretched leg of Smith.

West Allotment took the lead on 16 minutes after some good work by Walton and Buzzeo the ball was played in to Waite who looked to have lost possession before being fouled by Beasley. The referee signalled a penalty. Walton duly despatched the kick into the roof of the net sending Hoggeth the wrong way.

From the kick off Walton pushing forward crossed into the box and Davies hit the post from 10 yards out. The ball rebounded to Walton who was clearly in an offside position so the subsequent cross and shot into the net by Smith was always going to be ruled out. However it proved that the West Allotment defence could be broken.

With both teams looking to play football and get the ball forward at every opportunity it was turning into a good match to watch from a neutral's point of view. Bannon in the Allotment goal was called into action to save from Coghlan and when Logan was sent clear it took a suberb tackle by Hughes to deny the striker a goal.

In the 40th minute a through ball from Smith found Davies inside the box, but he appeared to be fouled as he went round the keeper and a penalty was awarded. However, Bannon who was having an outstanding game pulled of a great save to deny Coghlan from the spot kick.

An innocuous clash or heads just before half time between Logan and Waite saw the latter taken to hospital with a suspected broken nose.

The second half saw RCA camped out in the West Allotment half for long periods, but unable to penetrate a resolute Allotment defence.

A cross from Walton found Davies free at the far post, but his header flashed narrowly wide of the post with Bannon struggling to get anywhere near it.

A good move between Richards and Beasley almost got just rewards when they set Logan up for a great chance, but Bannon was equal to it.
Minutes later RCA were awarded freekick just outside the area which Davies took and forced a brilliant save from Bannon.

RCA threw caution to the wind pushing Walton and Jones forward in a last ditch attempt to salvage a point and in the 89th minute they were rewarded when a cross from Beasley was not dealt with by the West allotment defence and the loose ball fell to Smith who cut inside before slotting the ball home.

A draw probably was a fair result, but on the second half performance RCA will be disappointed not to have taken all three points.