Saturday, 4 September 2010

FA Vase 1st Preliminary Round

Sunderland RCA were in action in the FA VAse against Selby Town of the North West Counties League. After 20 minutes of the game they found themselves 2-1 down and no Selby player had scored.

(Sorry for the delay in publishing this report but had gremlins in the computer and was not willing to compromise this web site.)

RCA began this FA Vase match with a flourish and almost took the lead in the opening minute when Tate had a shot well saved. RCA took the lead after two minutes when Wardle headed home a Coe corner at the far post unmarked.

In the 11 minute an Eeles cross into the box went into the net off Butler's head for an own goal.

RCA resorted, untypically this season, to the long ball and put Selby under pressure, but they did not create any chances.

Selby started to turn the screw and were rewarded when a Rhoades free kick cross was headed into his own goal by Wardle for his second goal of the game. Unfortunately it was another own goal to put Selby ahead.

A collision between Naisbett and Debnam saw the latter depart with what looked like a serious knee injury. Selby were beginning to get on top towards the end of the first half

The second half saw the game go Selby's way and it was no surprise to see them increased their lead when Wheeler found Shahin after some dreadful defending and he passed the ball to Davis to curl the ball round Naisbett.

Minutes later and Wheeler should have sealed the victory when he missed two opportunities inside a minute. The first chance went just wide when he was through one-on-one with the keeper and the second when Naisbett collected as Wheeler was sent clear. This marked the start of a flurry of substitutions as RCA tried to get something from a game that was fast running away from them. Wilkinson forced Fraser into a good save with his legs minutes after coming on. The same player forced a fantastic reaction save from Fraser two minutes later.

In the 80th minute Joe fairish was dismissed for a second bookable offence although both bookings seemed harsh in a match where there wasn't a bad tackle.

RCA upped the tempo in the final minutes and the pressure paid of in the last minute when an attempted clearance hit Tate on the head and the ball went into the goal. This made for an exciting end to an otherwise poor display from RCA.

Wednesday, 8 September 2010

STL Northern League Division I

Sunderland RCA gave débuts to new signings, Joe Walton and ex-Sunderland AFC player Martin Smith, against Shildon.

This turned out once again to be a pulsating match and it is beyond my comprehension and most of the assembled crowd, how RCA remain without a win this season. Until the 83rd minute this match had a draw written all over it. On this form we should be fighting for a top five spot and not for survival.

Shildon AFC went top of the newly named STL Northern Football League after tonight's 3-1 win. On a night of few clear cut chances RCA can count themselves very unlucky not to have come away with at least a draw.

RCA started well enough with Parkin unlucky not to connect with a cross from Walton after three minutes and Smith combining well with Tate before the latter fired a shot wide. Shildons's first effort fell to Richmond, but his speculative effort went well wide after ten minutes. However three minutes later Shildon took the lead when a 40 yard pass from Johnson found Garvie free on the edge of the box and he made no mistake with a thunderbolt of a shot which gave Naisbett no chance.

RCA's defence looked very shaky against the pace of Garvie, but managed to stop any real efforts on goal. At the other end Smith was causing problems and was unlucky with an attempted overhead kick, but Shildon cleared the danger.

It was end-to-end stuff and the neutrals in the crowd were being thouroughly entertained.

In the 40th minute Naisbett was forced to palm a shot from Johnson away and the RCA defence cleared the ball. In the final minute of the half Sam Garvie went on a mazy run which was abrubtly halted on the edge of the box, but Shildon could not take advantage of the free kick Garvie firing straight at Naisbett.

At the start of the second half both teams were trying to pass the ball on the ground and the game was played predominantly in midfield. With no team posing any real threat both keepers were only called upon to deliver clearances.

In the 65th minute, after a spell of concerted pressure, RCA equalised with probably their first real effort on target in the second half. From 20 yards out Smith fired a low drive which nestled in the bottom corner of the net giving Finch no chance. RCA were unlucky not to add to there score when Parkin crossed for Tate and Keegan was forced to concede a corner. From the resulting kick Wardle headed over.

This was RCA's best spell of the game and they would have taken the lead had it not been for the outstanding close range stop of Finch from McCleod in the 82nd minute. Within a minute Shildon regained the lead when a long ball found Garvie in acres of space and once again he punished the slack marking with a well taken goal.

In the 87th minute Shildon made sure of all three points when Hawkins challenged Naisbett for a high ball and the keeper, under pressure and possibly fouled, lost possession and impeded Hawkins. The referee who had an excellent game had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Garvie completed his hat-trick with a well-taken penalty.

Saturday, 11 September 2010

STL Northern League Division 1

Click here for a slideshow of photos from the match.

A Micky Coghlan brace was not enough to secure RCA their first win of the season but a draw at Synners ground is not a bad result. We can feel a little agrieved that we lost a two goal lead but then on reflection a draw was probably a fair result.

Billingham Synthonia started the game well and a shot from McPhillips was deflect wide by Gordon. Iley's flag-kick fell to Marron but he shot wide. This should have been a warning to RCA not to allow the big defenders of Synners space in the box.

Synners maintained their early momentum and a 25 yard shot from Jameson flashed wide of the upright. RCA, having weathered the early storm, came forward and Gordon was unlucky with a snap shot from 20 yards out after some good inter play with Coghlan.

With the game becoming bogged down in midfield chances were few and far between. In the 30th minute a piece of inspiration saw a long range effort from Parkin land on top of the net with Porter beaten.

At the other end Billingham were awarded a freekick which was headed into the path of McPhillips who shot over the bar. In the 40th minute RCA han a strong shout for a penalty when Martin Smith hooked the ball goalward and it was turned round the post by the hand of a Marron.

RCA opened the scoring in the 41st minute. when McLeod forund Coghlan in space and he volleyed the ball past Porter from 25 yards out.

Within two minutes RCA were 2 - 0 up as Synners looked all at sea at the back and Coghlan raced onto pass from Smith and sent a cracking shot low into the bottom corner.

The game ebbed and flowed at the start of the second half as RCA went for the goal that would kill of f Synners and Synners for their part tried to get back into the game. McPhillips shot wide for Synners, then Walton headed over the bar.

In the 60th minutes Richard Logan had a great opportunity to finish Synners off, but his driving run and shot was expertly saved by Porter. A succession of corners to RCA emphasised their superiority at this point and only some great defensive work by Marron kept the score at 2-0. Synners seemed to heart from this defensive display and the move of Iley into a more central role caused problems for the RCA defence.

In the 65th minute a corner fell to the unmarked Storr who forced a great save from Hoggeth. RCA came forward again and in the 70th minute a Walton shot on goal saw Porter save. Within a minute Synners had pulled a goal back when a Jameson free-kick close to the right hand corner flag found Smith at the back post and he powered a header home.

RCA started to drop deeper to protect their lead and Synners now looked threatening with every attack.

The second penalty appeal of the game was turned away by the referee when Gordon appeared to handle the ball.

Synners continued to attack and got their reward in the 88th minute when Iley crossed for Marron to shoot from inside the six yard box. His shot cannoned of a number of RCA players before crossing the line for the equaliser.

Saturday, 18 September 2010

STL Northern League Division 1

Click here for a slideshow of photos from the match.

Another woeful defensive display led to major mistakes which were punished with great efficiency by a rampant Dunston attack. RCA have to learn that mistakes at this level cost you dearly.

A bright start by both teams saw early chances go begging firstly Armstrong had a header well saved by Hoggeth and in the next attack at the other end Walton played the ball in to Logan and with only the keeper to beat he scuffed his shot wide.

The RCA defence were finding it difficult to cope with Preen's movement and allowed him space to shoot after 15 minutes, luckily Hoggeth was on hand to save. However we did not learn from this and a minute later Preen pounced on a loose ball to fire home. Three minutes later and RCA defence was exposed again when a corner was passed into Preen and he laid the ball back for Young to fire home. It was all Dunston at this stage and Bulford could have made 3-0, but his shot took a deflection for a corner.

RCA seemed to have weathered the storm and a good move between Parkin and Gordon saw the latter shoot narrowly wide with Clark beaten. Then Walton crossed to the far post and with Logan bearing down on the ball Pickering headed the ball narrowly past the post. Logan almost got a goal back when he burst past two defenders to get to a pass from Coghlan, but his effort was well saved by Clark.

A free kick from Coghlan caused panic stations in the Dunston defence, but Smith was unable to capitalise on a mistake from Bell and the ball trickled wide of the post.

Dunston picked up the tempo again and McAndrew, who had terrorised the RCA defence up to this point, went past three defenders before powering in a shot which was brilliantly saved by Hoggeth.

With the half coming to a close a long ball out of defence by Dunston should have been easily dealt with by Gordon; unfortunately his intended back pass was picked up by McAndrew and he finished with aplomb.

There was no time even to kick off before the half time whistle went.

To their credit RCA came out in the second half to attack, but the Dunston defence were in no mood to give anything away, with Cattanach in outstanding form. In the 55th minute Logan, who had worked tirelessly up front for RCA had a shot well saved by Clark when he looked odds on to score. The keeper was then called upon to tip a shot from Davies over the bar. On the counter Galbraith forced a fine save from Hoggeth. Then in the 70th minute a cross into the box was met by Beasley who headed the ball into his own net.

Once again in the final minute of the match RCA hit the self-destruct button with Duke being caught in possession by Hepplewhite, who found McAndrew inside the 18 yard box and he made no mistake from 12 yards out.

Tuesday, 21 September 2010

Durham Challenge Cup Preliminary Round

Sunderland RCA progressed to the next round of the Durham Challenge Cup with a less than convincing display against a hard working and well organised Coxhoe Athletic team.

A 36th minute strike from Harrison Davies was enough to see off Coxhoe Athletic FC in this Durham Challenge Cup match.

RCA took advantage of the slope in the first half and created chance after chance which they squandered. The players were also guilty of being caught offside to easily. (Six times in the first five minutes).

The goal when it came was a well worked individual one. Davies cut in from the left wing and once inside the box brought the ball onto his right foot and curled it past Orton in the Coxhoe goal.

Just before half time Orton was called upon to tip over the bar from Parkin.

The second half was a replica of the first half, but with no goals, although Davies was guilty of hitting the post when it looked easier to score.

Late in the game Coxhoe did trouble Hoggeth, but he handled the shot well.

In the end it looked comfortable, but the scoreline does not reflect this.

Coxhoe worked really hard throughout the team for the whole of the 90 minutes and will probably say that the hard work deserved at least extra time.

Saturday, 25 September 2010

STL Northern League Division 1

Sunderland RCA secured their first win of the season in emphatic style beating bottom club Esh Winning 7 - 0.

A Martin Smith hat-trick made sure of the three points but there were excellent displays from Coghlan and Logan and the crossed leg chip ball by Harrison Davies to set up the fourth goal for Smith was worth the admission money on its own.

RCA entertained Esh Winning in this bottom of the table clash and although still early in the season it was being billed as a six pointer.

Esh were unlucky not to take the lead in the second minute when a goal mouth scramble saw both Nixon and Ward have shots blocked by Oates.

In the fifth minute Davies crossed to the far post where Richards was on hand to fire in a shot which was blocked by Hogg, minutes later a a shot by Coghlan went narrowly wide.

Esh were awarded a freekick on the edge of the box for a foul by Beasley and although Marron lifted the ball over the wall Hoggeth made the save look easy. From his clearance the ball found Smith wide on the right and his cross come shot beat Pringle, but drifted narrowly wide of the far post with Logan only inches away from getting a touch on the ball.

RCA were starting to dominate possession with both Coghlan and Richards pressing forward at every opportunity. A Coghlan pass found Logan on the edge of the box, but his shot flew over the bar.

A cross-field ball from Beasley found Davies, who in turn fed Smith who flicked the ball up before sending in an overhead kick which shaved the crossbar.

There was no holding Davies and Smith and the two combined again in the 19th minute when Smith was unlucky with a shot on the turn which hit the side netting. Smith made no mistake a minute later when Logan won the ball on the edge of the box, passed to Davies who played the ball in to Smith who turned and fired low into the bottom corner giving Pringle no chance.

RCA went 2-0 up five minutes later when Walton popped up on the left and fired in a shot from the edge of the box which was still rising as it hit the net. Esh were reeling from these quick-fire goals and worse was to follow as Beasley powered in a header from a Davies corner to make it 3-0.

RCA maintained the pressure and when Coghlan found Logan on the right he cut inside and beat two defenders before watching his shot go agonisingly wide of the upright.

Esh made a few forays into RCA territory late in the half and Dobby had a good opportunity to score when he found himself unmarked in the box, but fired wide. RCA responded with a Richards shot which was saved by Pringle and a shot from Walton which was blocked by Wilson.

In the 45th minute came a little bit of magic that will be remembered for a long time by the RCA supporters who witnessed it. Davies receiving a pass from Coghlan, audaciously, used a cross legged chip which cleared the defenders and fell into the path of Smith who in turn volleyed past the helpless Pringle. A glorious goal to end the half on!

Parkin replaced the injured Walton at half time and was in action immediately as he burst into the box after a one two with Logan, but his shot was charged down by Clough. Esh then had their best spell of the game as the pushed men forward in an effort to break down the RCA defence. Nixon had a header which hit the post and Ward following up pounced on the rebound but his effort was cleared off the line by Beasley.

RCA had allowed Esh to over run them in the early part of this second half and a shot from Nixon went narrowly wide after some good build up play between Marron and Ward. McLeod replaced the injured Richards in an effort to stop Ward who was causing a few problems for RCA.

Wilson picked up a loose pass from midfield and charged forward beating three players before unleashing a shot which went narrowly wide.

This seemed to spur RCA back to life or maybe it was the withdrawal of the effective Ward. RCA took the game to Esh having withstood this 10 minute spell.

Davies and Duke were combing well on the left and Jones and Parkin were causing problems on the right.

Two crosses in the space of a minute had the Esh defence scrambling all over the place, but no RCA player could produce an end product.

RCA were steadily increasing the pressure and forcing Esh onto the back foot a long ball from Jones found Smith on the left wing and he passed the ball into the path of Coghlan who shot wide.

Coghlan returned the favour a minute late with a defence splitting pass which found Smith, but his shot was well saved by Pringle. Pringle found Marron with the clearance and he made a good move into the box only to be denied by a superb covering tackle from Beasley.

The running and work rate of Logan was rewarded in the 85th minute when he ran onto a ball from Coghlan before steering it past the advancing Pringle.

A minute later and Coghlan fired over the bar; Esh were completely gone now and RCA were rampant. A cross from Davies found Smith, but he headed over the bar, but within a minute he had scored to record a hat-trick.

Another superb defence splitting pass this time found Parkin and he raced clear to blast the ball past Pringle.

Tuesday, 28 September 2010

STL Northern League Division 1

Sunderland RCA travelled to Billingham Town on the back of Saturdays 7-0 demolition of Esh Winning. Manager Neil Hixon was forced into two changes from that side with Paul Wardle coming in at left back and Gavin Parkin taking a place on the right side of midfield for the unavailable Joe Walton and David Duke.

RCA started promisingly looking confident in possession and it was not long before they created the first opening. A tidy passing move down the right hand side gave Steve Jones the chance to deliver. His cross was blocked by the closing defender but the loose ball was intelligently anticipated by Micky Coghlan. Coghlan took the ball to the byline and floated a delightful cross over the flapping Billingham Town goalkeeper, dropping at the back post and only needing a touch that the onrushing Martin Smith could not provide.

With RCA on top Billingham Town kept on reverting to their only attacking option at their disposal of switching a long, crossfield ball that were time and again easily read by James Oates and Carl Beasley in the RCA defence.

Richie Logan was causing Billingham Town continual problems. His strong running was exposing the fragilities in the Billingham Town defence and on the half hour mark he should have opened the scoring with a chance all of his own making. Logan ran onto a seemingly innocuous ball into the channel and through either skill or just shear determination his first touch took him inside his marker who was now afraid to make a challenge. Logan ran through on goal with Smith screaming for the square ball to tap into the empty net. Logan choose to go alone and, using the outside of his foot to bend the ball around the advancing keeper, he fired on goal sending the ball agonisingly wide.

RCA were having the better of possession and creating the better chances but the sides went level at the half.

The second half began as the first ended with Logan providing an efficient attacking outlet and it was his hold up play that led to the opening goal. Attacking on the counter Logan fed the ball into Smith who cleverly beat the first defender and ran onto purposefully to the byline and whipped a ball between goalkeeper and defenders that was turned in by Harrison Davies.

Billingham Town tried to get back into the game but it was RCA who looked more dangerous on the counter with Davies having the beating of his man. RCA should have got a second when Logan and Smith combined well again pulling the ball back to Coghlan but his goalbound effort was fantastically blocked by a Billingham Town defender. Davies again had a chance. Getting round the back of his defender, his powerful shot was palmed straight back to him by the Billingham Town goalkeeper but he cued his second shot wide.

With 10 minutes remain RCA looked comfortable despite Billingham Town attempting to pressure but a chance was always likely to present itself. Oates closed down a long-range effort but the ball span up in the air and over the RCA defence. A Billingham striker reacted first and only a great reaction save by Gary Hoggeth denied him.

RCA held out the remainder of the match comfortable to make it three wins, and clean sheets, in three.