2009-04-27 - Birtley Town 2 Sunderland RCA 1

skilltraining Northern League

27 April 2009

With Horden securing their promotion and settling the race for the promotion places, manager Neil Hixon made changes of personnel and formation for this last league of the 2008/09 campaign against The Hoops on a damp evening at Birtley Sports Complex. Steven Stewart, Liam Gill and Mark Davidson were up front in a 4-3-3 formation, with Anth Laidler, Michael Coghlan and Scott Richards in the middle and Adam McGuinness, Wayne Henderson, Glenn Moan and Steve Jones at the back. Gary Hoggeth was the between the sticks.

Birtley kicked off but it was RCA who made the sharpest start as Scott Richards won the ball straight away. On four minutes Steven Stewart put a cross into Liam Gill but his header towards goal was from an offside position. Birtley too were looking sharp and when Adam McGuinness gave the ball away they made a good break, but the cross in was wasted. RCA replied with good work from Stewart on the left who put in a good cross for Mark Davidson to challenge, to his pain unfortunately. Two minutes later and Davidson put in good work again releasing a ball for Liam Gill to chase down the right. He held possession well, brining in Steve Jones whose first time cross was too close to the keeper.

On 13 minutes there was a great move from Birtley, using both sides of the pitch. It ended in a shot from the right which was pushed behind by Gary Hoggeth for a corner, from which a free header went past the post. This was a sign of Birtley's capability and intent and on 17 minutes the break through came when the tricky and pacey Birtley number 11 Kris Hughes broke through in the centre and ran through to shoot strongly. Keeper Hoggeth parried the shot but its pace took it over the keeper and it spun into the net.

From the kick off RCA were straight back in it with a corner, but the referee blew for a foul on the keeper. On 27 minutes more pressure from RCA ended with a Steve Jones cross, which Mark Davidson headed wide.

On 32 minutes the locals were far from happy when a late kick from Steven Stewart downed a Birtley player who needed treatment. The referee showed a yellow card.

On 44 minutes RCA got themselves back in the game when a good cross from full back Jones found Stewart at a narrow angle at the far post and he slotted neatly past the keeper to make it all square at half time.

RCA started the second half in determined mood. On 48 minutes another good ball from Michael Coghlan - a player who can consistently see and execute good passes and play one touch football - nearly had Steven Stewart in on goal, but a defender nipped in to deflect the ball for a corner. A minute later and Coghlan was repeating the play with a ball into the left corner for Stewart to cross.

On 55 minutes manager Hixon made a tactical switch, bringing off Glenn Moan, bringing Steve Halliday on, switching Anth Laidler to central defence and deploying a 4-4-1-1 with Gill moving to the right wing and Coghlan playing just behind Davidson at the front.

RCA continued with good possession and pressure, but it was not all the away side. On 65 minutes a very good cross from Birtley's first half scorer Kris Hughes led to a last ditch clearance from Steve Jones in the six yard box.

On 68 minutes Liam Gill came off, replaced by Andy Jennings, with Coghlan dropping back into a conventional 4-4-2. AJ's height came in to good use on 71 minutes when he headed on a long ball from Gary Hoggeth to Steven Stewart who shot across goal.

The match turned on the 75th minute. Scott Richards lost the ball in the middle and Birtley broke strongly down their right with the player moving into shoot on the urging of the Birtley bench. Keeper Hoggeth parried the powerful shot, but the ball broke to the middle of the 18-yard line and a Birtley player shot strongly into the net. After that RCA were a spent force. Ten minutes later and it looked certain that Birtley would make it three as they were through again, but shot weakly and wide.

This was a curate's egg of a performance from RCA and after Saturday's let down on the promotion campaign some flatness was to be expected. Fair play to Birtley though - they played well and deserved the points here. RCA will need to be sharper against Horden in the Ernest Armstrong Memorial Cup Final.