Wednesday, 24 August 2011
STL Northern League Division 1
Sunderland RCA travelled down the A19 to play unbeaten and free scoring Billingham Synthonia in this Division 1 match. Synners defending a 100% record took to the field full of confidence.
RCA's management team once again made a number of changes to the team who won on Friday night.
Synners showed from the outset why they have started so well this season their pace and movement was excellent. However, RCA countered this with some brilliant defending and great attacking options, if not for some poor finishing in front of goal they could have been out of sight before half time, but that is football.
The game opened with Synners looking calm in possession, particularly at the back, but with RCA marking well and breaking up any movement forward with Close and Cuthbertson making good interceptions and trying to set the RCA wide men free at every opportunity.
After a dozen minutes of sparring Synners conceded a free kick on the edge of their box, with many spectators thinking the offence might have been the other way, but in any event definitely in the box. Not to worry, the free kick, driven in by Mark Davison, brought a good save from the keeper, but Gavin Barton was sharpest to react and slotted the rebound home. In the next few minutes RCA could have had the game sewn up, as a couple of glorious chances to extend the lead were spurned.
The rest of the half saw the Synners faithful in the decent crowd becoming increasingly frustrated as the pattern of the game continued with the home side looking good in possession, but RCA looking far more dangerous with the ball. Through Mark Davison holding the ball up well and Gavin Barton playing off him, three chances were made and let go.
After the break Synners enjoyed their best spell for 15 minutes, pushing forward aggressively and getting a series of balls into the box. RCA centre backs Carl Beasley and Ian Maddison dealt with most of them, with Hoggy catching and punching on occasion.
RCA conceded a few corners, but rarely looked extended and it was past the hour before Hoggy made his only save of real note, beating out a good effort from the edge of the box.
The longer the half went on the more RCA came back as an attacking force. Again, several excellent chances were spurned. In fact, it was only that it stayed a one goal lead that kept Billingham competitive.
As the final quarter came round we looked very comfortable, breaking well and holding the ball in the corners to see out a good win that was a good deal more impressive than the scoreline suggests: a very decent performance against a more than decent Synners side.