Bedlington Terriers 3 Sunderland RCA 3
Two Terriers at the heels of RCA’s Richie Logan.
Saturday, 12 March 2011
STL Northern League Division 1
After the disappointment of the past couple of results, Sunderland RCA travelled to Welfare Park to play Bedlington Terriers a team who have been inconsistent recently after a promising start to the season. RCA welcomed back Richie Logan to the starting line up after the forward missed the last three games as RCA reverted to a more familiar formation with Keith Graydon playing off the aforementioned Logan.
RCA were quick out of the blocks wasting a good early opportunity in what is becoming something of a signature to the openings of games. Scott Richards was again forced off early with the recurrence of an injury being replaced by Leon Carling. This didn’t interrupt RCA’s pattern of play with both teams looking dangerous in front of goal with a noticeable threat coming from Harrison Davies down the RCA left and Alex Benjamin at the tip of the Bedlington attack.
Davies would be the architect of the game's opening goal. Receiving the ball at feet, Davies easily beat his man and driving to the byline he delivered a telling ball across the box that was converted at the back post by Joe Walton. RCA took the goal advantage into the interval where an injury to the assistant referee delayed the start of the second period of play.
Bedlington adjusted to this longer layoff quicker than RCA and looked threatening from the off and three minutes into the second half a bouncing ball right on the edge of the RCA 18-yard box was handled by Marc Ellison. Mark Convery stepped up to take the resulting free kick and his blasted effort went through the RCA wall and despite getting two hands to the ball, RCA keeper Gary Hoggeth could not keep it out.
Bedlington took the lead a minute later. Convery with the ball over the RCA backline which James Oates could not intercept, giving Benjamin a free run on goal and the prolific striker an easy finish.
RCA hit right back, Logan winning a freekick on the edge of the area after some good approach play. Graydon stepped up to take charge of the dead ball and his effort left Bedlington keeper Paul Newton with no chance.
Bedlington would regain the lead in unusual circumstances. Attacking down the left with former RCA man Richard Hodgson Bedlington were short of numbers in the box and Hodgson hung a ball to the back post. None of the Bedlington frontline were able to take advantage of the excellent ball into the box and it was left to RCA full back Paul Talbot to comfortably deal with. Talbot attempted to turn the ball out for a corner, but made a hash of his clearance and put the ball into the back of his own net.
RCA pressed for the equaliser and were handed the numerical advantage when Peter Snowdon was dismissed for a second yellow card. A moment of madness gave RCA a way back into the game in the final 10 minutes. A floated ball into the box that did not seem to be causing a great deal of danger was inexplicably handled by Chris Carr in the most dramatic diving fashion. The resulting penalty was coolly dispatched by Graydon to give him his second goal against his former club.
RCA could and perhaps should have found the winner late on. As the end-to-end game spiralled towards it conclusion RCA, on a counter attack, found themselves with a three on two situation. Graydon found the man over, Walton, who ran through on goal but his shot on his weaker left foot went agonisingly wide. In almost the last action of the game substitute Paul Taylor was presented with an opportunity four yards from goal, but his shot was straight at Newton who produced a quick reaction save.
The game ended 3-3 with both sides perhaps feeling they had the opportunity to take all three points.
