Tuesday, 1 March 2011

STL Northern League Division 1

Sunderland RCA moved up to ninth in the league, the highest position for the club all season, after a 2-0 win over Billingham Synthonia at Meadow Park. Keith Graydon returned to the centre of the RCA midfield after missing the last two games and John Toft came in for the unavailable Richie Logan.

The opening stages of the game saw both sides create openings with neither taking advantage. Joe Walton and Harrison Davies were looking dangerous on the flanks for RCA. After around 15 minutes of play Davies received the ball on the left and, comfortably beat his marker, he drove into the box. Davies picked his cross, putting the ball in between defender and goalkeeper, and Walton slid in at the back post but agonisingly could not make contact.

RCA took the lead on 24 minutes. Walton received the ball on the edge of the box and within range he shot at goal. The strike, which was probably heading wide, took a heavy deflection off the unfortunate David Abel and evaded Josh Moody in the Synthonia goal.

RCA could have quickly made it two when Davies, with some good work down the left, got to the byline and cleverly pulled the ball back to Martin Smith who was standing unmarked around the penalty spot. Smith had time to pick his spot but his weak effort ended in the arms of Moody.

RCA doubled their lead just before the interval with the best piece of football of the match. Stepping past the first challenge Davies looked up and, seeing the run of Walton on the right, played a Hollywood ball across field that enable Walton to get in behind the Synthonia defence. Walton controlled the ball immaculately and finished into the bottom corner past Moody.

Synthonia began the second period looking for a way to get back into the match. A couple of half chances showed the nerves in the RCA defence then Colin Iley came closest for Synthonia with a freekick that whistled inches wide of Gary Hoggeth’s near post.

RCA continued threaten the Synthonia goal with Davies still causing problems down the left and Toft having a few weak attempts on goal. The introduction of Paul Taylor added some extra pace to the RCA attack and his strong running into the channel forced a mistake from the Synthonia defence. Taylor was able to pick his cross but Walton was unable to apply the finish.

Synthonia continued to pressure the RCA goal with Robbie Bettson and Glen Donaldson forcing a couple of good saves from Hoggeth. But they could not find the break through that would have put RCA under pressure in the closing stages of the game.

Saturday, 5 March 2011

STL Northern League Division 1

Click here for a slideshow of photos from the match - selection of 29 photos

Click here for a slideshow of photos from the match - 80 photos

Sunderland RCA travelled to Whitley Park for a challenging fixture against third bottom West Allotment Celtic. RCA manager Neil Hixon, who was without regulars Richie Logan and Keith Graydon, named a side with only one change from the eleven who overcame Billingham Synthonia with Scott Richards coming in for the aforementioned Graydon.

RCA were bright from the kick off and after two minutes of play created the game's first opening. A long ball from the back released Martin Smith who got in behind the West Allotment Celtic defence. With the keeper rushing out of his area Smith elected to lift the ball over the top of him. The effort, however, was meandering wide but John Toft was able to collect at the edge of the six-yard box and, cutting back inside the defender who was committed to the challenge, Toft had the goal at his mercy to pick his spot. The forward’s effort was poor, directed straight at the man on the line and the West Allotment Celtic defence was eventually able to clear.

RCA continued to pressure the West Allotment Celtic goal and looked likely to be the side to open the scoring. Good chances for Joe Walton and Smith were not taken and Toft again wasted one of RCA’s best openings when he took Walton’s low cross first time but failed to make the right connection.

West Allotment Celtic were only attacking occasionally on the break without much success. From Oates' challenge the referee awarded a very dubious freekick that put RCA on the back foot. The free kick was in a perfect position for the right footer to deliver a dangerous ball into the middle, but he elected to shoot and his goalward effort crashed off the underside of the bar leaving RCA goalkeeper Gary Hoggeth stranded and Craig Scott with a simple header to open the scoring.

West Allotment Celtic got their second again on the counter. The ball into the left channel was misjudged by the RCA defence and with players pushed up they were left exposed. Collecting the ball Paul Gardiner was able to cut inside and fired past Hoggeth into the bottom corner.

Harrison Davies had been causing West Allotment Celtic all sorts of problems during the first half. He had comfortably had the beating of his marker on a number of occasions, but failed to deliver a telling ball. In a moment of inspiration Davies got in behind the defence, drove into the area and delivered a elegant chip that deceived players on both sides. The West Allotment Celtic goalkeeper was forced to stand and watch as Davies effort floated over the top of him and dropped slowly towards the top corner clipping the crossbar and falling fortunately for a spectating West Allotment Celtic defender to clear.

In the second period RCA continued press eventually switching to an ambitiously unconventional 3-3-4 formation. The introduction of Paul Taylor for Toft gave RCA some extra pace in attack. Taylor was quickly into the game showing the nerves of the West Allotment Celtic backline and coming close to latching onto a couple of through balls. Taylor’s big chance came after the hour mark. Running onto a through ball Taylor rounded the advancing West Allotment Celtic goalkeeper but, in the moment needed to adjust his feet, allowed a West Allotment Celtic defender time to get back onto the line and clear his eventual shot.

While pushing men forward RCA were susceptible to attacks on the break, but West Allotment Celtic were unable to take advantage. RCA continued to create chance in the last ten minutes, but could not find the vital finish. A goalmouth scramble with around five minutes left presented a chance to Taylor whose effort was desperately stopped by the flailing arm of the West Allotment Celtic goalkeeper. The resulting ball bounced high up into the air across the untendered goalmouth and Walton, under challenge, met the ball for what should have been a simple finish, but his header went wide.

Some poor and incoherent officiating on the day affected the flow of the game and, in the case of one or two of the inconsistent bookings, made the game seem more undisciplined than perhaps it was. After taking the two goal lead West Allotment Celtic seemed happy to sit back and some extensive and cynical use of timewasting over both halves of play was not in the sprit of how the match should have been played.

Wednesday, 9 March 2011

STL Northern League Division 1

Belle Vue Park home of Consett was engulfed in unfavourable football conditions for the visit of Sunderland RCA. High winds and heavy rain provided a muddy but playable pitch on a cold evening in County Durham. In an unfamiliar RCA system Joe Walton partnered Paul Taylor up front with a three man central midfield of Wayne Henderson, Marc Ellison and Michael Dalton and the introduction of Leon Carling to the regular RCA back line which gave licence to full backs Steve Jones and Paul Talbot to get forward.

The opening stages of the match showed some promise for RCA with two high balls over the top of the Consett back four catching in the wind and causing problems. Paul Taylor was able to get in behind on both occasions latching onto the first ball, but being well marshalled by the Consett defence and unable to get a strike away. On the second ball over the top Taylor looked to have got away from his marker and went down in the box under contact, that you feel anywhere else on the pitch would have resulted in an infringement, only for the referee to wave away the RCA protests.

Consett looked comfortable in possession and were winning every first and second ball. The three man RCA midfield of Henderson, Ellison and Dalton seemed unable to exert any commanding influence on the game resulting in some good team moves by Consett with Gavin Barton and Mark Eccles able to test Gary Hoggeth in the RCA goal.

When RCA were in possession the centre of the park looked congested and with no outlets on the flanks and the midfield was struggling to keep hold of the ball. In comparison Consett were using the whole of the pitch to great effect and just after the half hour mark a confident interchange of passes allowed Eccles to open the scoring.

RCA were beginning to look nervous and were quickly two goals behind. A couple of failed challenges by the RCA back line saw the referee immediately point to the spot and Jamie Poole stepped up to convert the penalty.

With Consett having the majority of the play RCA stayed resolute to maintain the score until half time. Harrison Davies was introduced after the interval with the intention of providing more of an attacking threat to the Consett back line. With a bit more attacking impetus RCA pushed men forward and a good run by Jones down the right was met with a cynical foul and an RCA freekick. Ellison provided the delivery, which should have been a simple take for Consett goalkeeper Barry Poskett, but Poskett spilled his catch dropping the ball perfectly for Walton to score in the untended goal. However, Walton’s stabbed strike was stepped across by Taylor who inadvertently deflected the ball away from goal.

Consett’s third goal came in fortuitous circumstances. Poole found himself free down the left flank and with men over at the back post he played in a deep cross that looked to be too near Hoggeth. Hoggeth looked to have taken the correct position to make the catch, but the high ball got caught in the strong wind and the small change of direction left Hoggeth back peddling in vain as the cross found the top corner.

With Consett now comfortable RCA finally produced a passing move that opened up the Consett defence. Some quick one touch football found Davies on the edge of the box and he played a perfectly weighted ball into the overlapping run of Jones but, unmarked, the full back fired his shot over.

Consett played out the remainder of the game with the majority of possession and made secure of the victory without having to put RCA to the sword. RCA will be disappointed with their performance where they were second to a better side in every area of the park.

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.

Tuesday, 15 March 2011

STL Northern League Division 1

Sunderland RCA were visitors to the hugely impressive Heritage Park ground of Bishop Auckland AFC. The impressive surroundings were not matched by the unbelievably poor playing surface, which resembled a patchwork quilt made up mostly of sand and re-laid turf. With the mist rolling in it looked like a scene from the Dunkirk landing rather than a football pitch.

RCA made one change to Saturday's starting line up with Leon Carling keeping his place in the centre of midfiled after a very good performance when replacing the injured Scott Richards at Bedlington.

The match began with both teams eager to impress and pushing players forward trying to create chances, but both defences looked solid. The game changed dramatically in the fifth minute when Richard Logan received an early red card and RCA were reduced to ten men. Logan had already been involved in an altercation with Dixon which saw the Bishop’s defender punch and kick the RCA forward before he decided to take retribution and elbow the Bishops defender in the face.

The opening 20 minutes were fairly even and RCA looked to be getting on top. Walton was causing major problems on the right, in the 15 minute he set Ellison up on the edge of the box but his shot went over the bar.

On 18 minutes Gredziak had the home team's first effort when he stretched to a loose ball which Hoggeth saved, but took a blow to the face in doing so. Yellow card to Gredziak.

In the 23rd minute Bell and Lawson combined set up Salvin but his weak effort was easily saved by Hoggeth.

With RCA pressing forward and looking dangerous a good move was brought to a sudden end by a two footed challenge on Graydon by Brumwell who was only given a yellow card for what in most games would have been a straight red.

RCA missed a great chance to take the lead just after the half hour when Graydon turned to volley, but saw his effort fly narrowly past the upright. Bishops replied with a long throw which was knocked down to Atkinson who scuffed his shot well wide.

RCA, after some good play, took the lead in the 36th minute when Walton latched onto a cross from Jones to steer the ball home past the despairing dive of Jeffries.

Bishops hit back immediately when RCA failed to clear their lines and the ball fell to Brumwell who clipped it back over the top and found Lawson who had time to chest the ball down and stabbing home from ten yards.

RCA self-destructed, conceding another goal within three minutes when a hopeful cross from Gredziak found Bell in acres of space he easily slotted home past Hoggeth.

RCA equalised in injury time when the ever dangerous Walton cut in from the right before unleashing a powerful shot which gave Jeffries no chance.

The second half started slowly with both teams taking time to settle. However, Bishops took the lead again on 54 minutes when Atkinson intercepted an horrendous back pass before rounding the keeperand slotting home from an acute angle.

In the 58th minute Walton had a glorious chance to equalise and complete his hat trick when a superb pass from Graydon found him inside the box, but his curling shot went narrowly wide with Jeffries beaten. A minute later and Bell carried the ball out of defence before passing to Gredziak who shot just wide.

Another great chance fell to RCA in the 75th minute when Walton dispossessed Turnbull but blasted the ball wide.

RCA were once again on top of this match and a surging run by Walton was only stopped when he was up-ended by the lunging tackle of Darren Richardson with the ball two yards past him. Once again a red seemed likely but the very generous (for Bishops) Mr Clayton only showed yellow. From the resulting free-kick Graydon found Jones and Jeffries struggling to deal with the Jones cross could only push the ball away and Bishops were lucky to be able to clear.

With RCA understandably tiring Bishops created a number of late chances Chris Lawson, Strong and Turnbull all had decent chances.
RCA were down to nine men on 91 minutes when Ellison picked up a second yellow for a foul on Richardson and even with nine men it was Bishop who were hanging on at the end to take all three points.

Saturday, 19 March 2011

STL Northern League Division 1

Click here for a slideshow of photos from the match

Sunderland RCA FC entertained Norton and Stockton Ancients FC at Meadow Park in today's Northern League Division 1 match. After a nondescript first half nobody could have forseen the dramatic events of the second half that gave the Ancients all three points.

The game started slowly with neither team being able to penetrate due to some good defending. Both Davies and Walton were unable to get telling crosses into the box when in good postions. In the eigth minute the first chance of the game fell to Logan after he worked an opening on the right but his final shot went wide of the target. After a succession of corners a header from Beasley was well saved by Provett. A minute later a shot from Walton was tipped round the post.

Norton responded with Owens forcing a good save Hoggeth and the rebound falling to Mulligan who fired wide when in a great position.

The half was marred in the closing stages when Harrison Davies went down with no-one near him - later confirmed as a broken ankle.

Norton Stockton started the second half in commanding fashion. In the 47th minute a ball in the box was handled by Beasley and it was left to Mulligan to open the scoring from the penalty spot.

In the 52nd minute the visitors went 2 -0 up when a long ball opened up the RCA defence and found Earl in acres of space and he fired home past the helpless Hoggeth.

In the 59th minute an altercation between Mulligan and Ellison saw the latter red-carded for the second time in two games, a minute later Norton and Stockton made it 3 - 0 when Earl scored.

RCA tried to get back into the game and a long range effort from Graydon went close with the keeper beaten. Norton and Stockton then seemed to lose their composure and in the 70th minute Mulligan was dismissed when he handled the ball on the line and Graydon stepped up to score from the spot.

Within five minutes Norton were down to nine men when Earl kicked Graydon and was dismissed. Sunderland RCA could not take avantage of the extra player. Despite constant pressure, the closest they came to scoring was when Taylor miskicked when in a good position and a free kick from Graydon sailed over the bar.

In the end Norton and Stockton deserved all three points for their superiority in the first 70 minutes of the match.

Tuesday, 22 March 2011

Brooks Mileson League Cup Trophy

Sunderland RCA made four changes to the team comprehensively beaten at the weekend. John Toft replaced the injured Harrison Davies (out for rest of season with a double fracture of the ankle), Paul Taylor came in for Richard Logan, who was unavailable through work committments, and there was the return of Martin Smith and John Butler after long absences to replace the cup tied Keith Graydon and the departure of Paul Talbot. So it was a new look SRCA that took to the pitch on a perfect night for football.

Not for the first time this season RCA started strongly, pinning the opposition back in their half of the field. The difference this time was the bonus of an early goal scored directly from a free-kick on the left wing. Toft floated the ball into the box at the far post and Pearson inexplicably made no attempt to get to it.

Stokesley’s first chance came in the eighth minute when Turner threaded a ball into the path of Jacobs, but he fired his shot well wide of the target under pressure from Oates. Five minutes later a cross from Decosemo looked to be going out of play, but rebounded off the bar and luckily for RCA fell to Jones who was able to clear the danger.

RCA extended their lead in the 17th minute when Taylor outpaced the Stokesley defence before picking out Smith in the box. The ex-Sunderland star showed great composure taking one touch to control the ball before striking it past Pearson from 12 yards out. To their credit Stokesley continued to play some attractive football in the middle of the park, but could not find the telling ball in the final third.

In the 23rd minute a speculative shot from Wheatley hit Beasley on the head and deflected the ball over the bar for a corner. From this kick Turner rose above everyone but could only steer his header over the bar.

RCA had a great chance to increase their lead when a through ball from Ellison found Toft who in turn set Carling up inside the box, but with only the keeper to beat he dragged his shot wide.

A late flurry from Stokesley saw Turner shoot wide and Allinson head over when both would have been expected to do better.

Stokesley started the second half in much the same vein as they had finished the first and after two minutes should have reduced the arrears when Allinson was again unmarked in the box, but could only scuff his shot wide with only Hoggeth to beat. RCA then got into their stride and a cross from Walton found Toft free at the far post, but he was unable to control his shot and scooped it over the bar.

The pressure was increased by RCA and it was no surprise when Walton made it 3 - 0 when Taylor swept past a static Stokesley defence before crossing the ball to Walton who hammered the ball home from close range. Within minutes the game was put beyond Stokesley grasp when a long cross-field ball from Toft found Walton who produced a bit of magic on the right to beat his man before setting up Taylor who managed to force the ball into the net.

A spate of substitutions then took place and during this period a lovely ball from Hume found Decosemo inside the box and he was able to score unchallenged to make the score 4-1.

Allinson was again guilty of missing a great opportunity in the 85th minute; it was obviously not his night, as he fired wide when in a good position.

As the game petered out Dalton fired into the side netting.

Over the 90 minutes this was a solid RCA performance with some fine individual displays from Toft, Taylor and Walton which will give the management team a selection headache for Friday.

SRCA will play Spennymoor Town at home in the semi-final after they defeated Bedlington Terriers 2 - 0.

Friday, 25 March 2011

STL Northern League Division 1

Sunderland RCA took a bit of a battering at West Auckland on a dismal Friday night. With a number of forced changes Neil Hixon's men were outclassed by a far superior West Auckland team.

It had all started quite well for RCA when a cross from Walton went fractionally over Logan's head with the forward unmarked in the box.

West then took the lead on ten minutes when Nicholls played a one-two with Moffat which saw the winger in space behind the backline and he fired past Gary Hoggeth to make it 1 - 0.

They could have been two up within a minute when Banks' effort was parried wide by the keeper. Hoggeth was called upon five minutes later making a superb one-handed save to turn Moffat's shot over the bar.

RCA were level in the 20th minute when Walton beat the full back to cross into the box and the ball was headed into the far corner by Michael Dalton.

Nicholls came close to restoring that lead seeing an effort flash narrowly over the bar. RCA continued to hit on the break and should have taken the lead when Graydon was sent clear by Logan, but he shot high and wide from inside the box. Further West possession saw Banks denied by Hoggeth and then Mark Stephenson fired a free kick inches wide.

West came close to leading at the break when in the 44th minute a good spell of possession resulted in a shot from Brown which went wide of the target.

RCA’s usual failings were evident once again at the beginning of the second half when they failed to clear a corner and Maddison was on hand to scuff a shot in off the post. RCA responded with a header over the bar from Dalton after some good work between Walton and Graydon.

West started to dominate possession and when Moffat latched onto a through ball it looked all over a goal, but he fired just off target. Nicholls was twice denied by Hoggeth in the next five minutes as West looked to seal all three points.

In the 80th minute West made it 3-1 when Brown found Banks and he rifled a lifting ball over Hoggeth and into the roof of the net, from 25 yards.

RCA had the chance to pull one back 60 seconds later when Logan was brought down in the box. After a discussion between the two officials a penalty was awarded, but Graydons’s well struck spotkick was brilliantly saved by Bell.

West completed the wrought in the 85th minute when a ball from Banks to Lunn was inexplicably left by Carling and this allowed Lunn to go clear before squaring the ball to Moffat to control and tap in his 35th goal of the season.

In the dying seconds RCA had an opportunity to redeem themselves when Dalton broke into the box, but couldn’t quite find the finish he was looking for and the ball trickled wide of the target.

Tuesday, 29 March 2011

STL Northern League Division 1

Sunderland RCA travelled to second bottom Esh Winning FC for this important STL Northern League fixture. A win for RCA would almost certainly confirm first division football next season while a win for Esh would give them the incentive to continue their fight against relegation.

RCA made a number of changes to the team. There was a recall for Adam McGuinness at left back, Scott Richards came back into the team after injury and partnered Keith Graydon in a new look midfield, while a debut appearance was given to recent signing Matthew Tymon.

From the start RCA pressed forward and in the third minute Walton was sent clear by Richards, but squandered a golden opportunity, shooting wide, when one-on-one with the keeper.

In the fifth minute, Esh were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box and Lindoe stepped up to shoot past the wall only to see the ball rebound off the post and go wide.

RCA continued to put pressure on the Esh defence and Beasley was unlucky with a header over from Graydon’s corner. Esh weathered the storm and came more into the game as the half progressed and a shot from Hanson had Hoggeth scambling to save to his right.

On 30 minutes a cross from Gibson found Hanson and his snap shot was cleared off the line by Jones.

In a final two minutes of the half Toft pulled up with a knee problem and was replaced by Shields and Ward came on for the injured Aiston.

RCA began the second half on top and remained so for most of the half. A Logan cross on 50 minutes found Tymon who controlled the ball before firing against the inside of the post and Walton could only steer the rebound wide of the target.

Although they had good possession and plenty of pressure RCA got no reward for the endeavours. A cross from Jones was headed down by Shields and, with Walton bearing down on the ball Wilson was able to flick the ball away to safety. A cross shot from Graydon went inches wide and a deflected shot from Shields was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Spence.

A freak goal sealed the points for RCA in the 80th minute when Spence was in the process of clearing the ball he blasted it at the back of Taylor and the ball ricocheted into the empty net.

A minute later RCA had the ball in the net again, but Taylor was adjudged to be offside.

Esh tried in vain for an equaliser, but nothing was forthcoming and the game ended Esh Winning 0 RCA 1.