Newcastle Benfield FC 1 Sunderland RCA FC 2

10 September 2011

STL Northern League Division 1

Click here for a slideshow of photos from the match.

RCA maintained their impressive start to the season with a great win over a very well organised Newcastle Benfield team who only succumbed in the second minute of injury time to a brilliantly headed goal by Mark Davison.

With only one recognised winger in the squad Neil Hixon once again made changes to the team who won so convincingly onTuesday at Billingham Town, by bringing in Marc Ellison for Gary Shields on the right wing.

The match started with Benfield attacking from the off and pressing forward at every opportunity; they were also closing the RCA players down and making it difficult for them to play the flowing football that had seen them move clear at the top of the league.

It wasn't until the tenth minute that Benfield created the first real chance of the match when a cross from Dodsworth was punched away by Hoggeth only as far as Hirst who clipped the ball to the back post for Chilton who completely mis-kicked the ball wide. RCA responded with a chance of their own when Jennings outpaced the Benfield defence and crossed to the far post where Ellison hit the ball first time, but his effort flashed past the far post.

Benfield then had a spell of good football that saw them create a numer of half chances. A reverse ball by Dodsworth found Hirst, but he fired over. Then Dodworth himself fired high over the bar after some excellent interplay with Chilton and finally a great run by Turnbull saw him fire in a cross shot which was saved by Hoggeth at the feet of Hirst.

The impetus then swung RCA's way as they started to get to grips with Benfield's midfield, a through ball from Ellison found Davison on the edge of the box and his turn and shot was deflected for a corner. Jennings was causing all sorts of problems as RCA started to aim long balls into the box for the front men with Stewart and Ellison ready to pounce on any loose balls.

RCA took the lead in the 27th minute when Davison headed on a cross from Jones. The Benfield defence did not deal with it and allowed Jennings to knock the ball wide before clipping it into an empty net.

The game seemed to step up a gear as RCA went looking for another goal and Benfield tried in vain for an equaliser. RCA withstood all that Benfield could muster and restricted them to long hopefull shots. It was RCA who had a good chance in the closing minutes of the half when Jennings was given the ball by Stewart inside the area, but as he fired towards an empty net Leighton somehow managed to block the ball.

The pattern continued in the second half and RCA should have gone 2 - 0 up when a free kick from McGuinness was headed back across goal by Carling, but Jennings blasted the ball over the bar from five yards out.

Benfield equalised in the 56th minute against the run of play when Anthony was first to react at the near post and he steered his header past the helpless RCA defence. The game was now being played at a frenetic pace as both teams tried to win this match.

A trademark long throw by McGuinness was headed on by Jennings and Stewart at the back post headed it back across the face of goal where Jennings could only head the ball wide from less than five yards. Benfield responded with a counter attack which set up Dodsworth, but his shot flashed across the box and luckily for RCA there was no one on hand to get a touch on it.

The climax to the game was bulding as RCA pressed forward and only some stirling defensive work from Benfield kept them at bay. In the 83rd minute a freekick was awarded just outside the area, but Davison fired wide. Grainger was able to pluck a couple of efforts from Stewart and Ellison out of the air and the game seemed to be heading towards a draw.

In the 88th minute Jones made a great burst into the box and fired in a shot which Grainger saved with his feet, the ball rebounded to Jones who proceeded to lash the ball into the top corner only to see the hand of Grainger miraculously turn the ball round the post. From the corner Grainger punched clear and sent Chilton on a run up the other end of the pitch, but Carling was aware of the danger and dealt with the threat.

As the game entered injury time RCA were awarded a free kick 35 yards out. The ball was floated towards the far post where Davison rose higher than everyone else and headed the ball past Grainger.

Another entertaining match in which every player stood up and was counted and proved equal to the task. Long may it continue.