Sunderland RCA FC 5 Ashington FC 1

Gavin Barton heads home his third goal and RCA's fourth in the 5 - 1 home win against Ashington FC.

Saturday, 27 August 2011

STL Northern League Division 1

Click here for a slideshow of photos from the match.

Match report courtesy of the Sunday Sun reporter Malcolm Pratt.

RCA continued their impressive start to the season with a comprehensive win at Meadow Park against Ashington FC. Gavin Barton was on hand to score his second hat trick of the season and his opening goal was an absolutely supurb piece of individual skill.

Neil Hixon was again forced to make changes with Lee Owens replacing the injured Harrison Davies and Leon Carling coming in for Ian Maddison who was at a family wedding.

Sunderland RCA manager Neil Hixon hailed his side’s ‘fantastic’ start to the season after the five-goal rout of Ashington at Meadow Park. Following heavy rain during the morning, the sun shone on the Wearsiders once they had reined in the Colliers’ early ambitions.

Hixon was delighted with the performance of his side as they kept in touch with the Northern League Division One’s early pacesetters. He said: “We were a bit sluggish at the start and conceded an early goal but thereafter, there was only one team going to win.

“We’ve won three of our four games and it was a great result drawing with Shildon who we led by two goals even though we finished with just nine players. And it shouldn’t be forgotten that we put seven goals past Birtley Town in the FA Cup.

“It’s early days yet, but we are more than confident of competing with the top teams,” added Hixon who steered the Wearsiders into a mid-table finish last time – their first in the top flight for more than two decades.

It was Gary Middleton’s Ashington side who struck first, however, as Chris Scott delivered a lovely through ball for Gareth Bainbridge to chip goalkeeper Gary Hoggeth. But any ambitions the Northumbrians harboured of causing an upset ended within a minute. Joe Walton raced through their defence and chipped keeper Karl Dryden for a sixth-minute equaliser. RCA were in dominant mood from then on and yje only surprise was that it took until the the 43rd minute to take the lead for the first time, but two goals in five minutes either side of the interval just about ended the game as a contest.

Steven Jones delivered a crossfield pass and dangerous striker Gavin Barton produced an exquisite chip with the inside of his left foot, deftly placing the ball over Dryden’s head from 15 yards.

Despite being pegged back for much of the game, Ashington had a glorious chance to equalise in the 46th minute but Stephen Young’s penalty was saved by Hoggeth.

The visitors paid the ultimate penalty when two minutes later Barton’s fierce shot rebounded from the underside of the crossbar into the net.

The predator completed his hat-trick midway through the second period with a comfortable header from six yards following a well-taken free-kick by Lee Owens.

Just before the end, the Wearsiders went nap as Dryden was beaten for a fifth time by Mark Davison’s spot-kick after a foul in the area.

Hixon added: “I thought Ashington competed pretty well in the first half but they wilted during the second.

“We go to South Shields tomorrow in good spirits but I’ll certainly remind the lads there are no easy pickings in this league.

“The Mariners haven’t taken a point yet and will be desperate to get off the mark, but the way we are playing I’m confident we can make a real go of it this season.”