Tow Law Town FC 2 Sunderland RCA FC 1

Saturday, 29 October 2011

STL Northern League Division 1

RCA captain Carl Beasley ensures that the Tow Law winger turns back towards his own goal

Click here for a slideshow of photos from the match.

RCA once again showed their inability to start well and lost control of the game in the first half, although it took two superb saves from Robinson in the "Lawyers" goal to keep the score at 2-1. In the second half RCA could not breakdown a very resolute Tow Law defence and for all their possession and control they could not find the target to equalise.

The Lawyers stated their intent within two minutes of the start with a well worked passing move which saw Jamieson feed the ball into the path of Davison and his well struck shot from 20 yards was tipped over the bar by Hoggeth. RCA responded with Stewart picking up the ball from a throw in cut inside the defender before unleashing a terrific drive which was brilliantly saved by Robinson in the Lawyers' goal. Two minutes later, Jake Henderson looked to fall awkwardly on the slippery surface and was escorted off the pitch with what looked like a dislocated shoulder. While down to 10 men the Lawyers struck when a cross to the far post found Jameison who headed the ball back across the face of goal and Dixon was on hand to volley home from close range.

Not content with this the Lawyers started to play some really good football and RCA had to dig deep to stay with them.

Slightly against the run of play RCA got an equaliser when Shields picked up the ball mid way in the Lawyers' half, carried the ball 20 yards before passing to Owens whose shot was well saved by Robinson, but the rebound fell kindly for Stewart and he tapped in from three yards. The game went into a bit of a lull as both teams battled to gain the initative but neither seemed to have the ability to get a stranglehold on the game.

The Lawyers eventually took the lead with the simplest of goals, a cross into the box from Robson was headed home unchallenged by Luke Thompson. A minute later and it could have been worse for RCA as Halliday picked up a loose ball and fired the ball inches wide. At the other end Davison struck a beautiful free kick inches over the bar with the keeper beaten. Then came the turning point in the game, as the match entered the final minute of the first half, a brilliant run by Shields into the box ended with him passing the ball to Owens, his shot was heading for the top corner, but Robinson somehow managed to tip the ball onto the bar, the ball rebounded to Shields who chipped the ball onto Davison's head and the forward looked in disbelief as Robinson managed to palm his header over the bar. An unbelievable double save which gave the Lawyers a big boost just before half time.

RCA began the second half as they finished the first and laid siege on the Lawyers' goal. A Beasley freekick was met by Davison, but once again Robinson saved only to see the ball go straight to Owens two yards out, but the RCA forward mishit his attempted shot wide.

The Lawyers were forced to defend in numbers as RCA mounted attack after attack. Stewart was unlucky with a shot which went over the bar then a brilliant cross field ball found Shields on the left and he cleverly slipped the ball to Stewart but he could only direct his shot straight at Robinson. Cuthbertson got in on the action with a curling shot which went narrowly wide and Oates was unlucky with a header which was saved by Robinson.

In the 65th minute Hoggeth was called upon to save from Robson as the Lawyers broke away for the first time in the second half.
Jennings, on for Owens, showed some silky skills as he danced past three defenders to get into a shooting position but then blasted the ball high over the bar. The same player then received a wonderful ball from Shields inside the area, he turned but once again fired over the bar.
The Lawyers were now defending desperately as RCA piled more and more players forward in an attempt to get the equaliser, the pressure was relentless but the final product always seemed to be missing and when they did break through the superb Robinson was on hand to make the saves and calm everyone down.

The final five minutes where hectic and frustrating for RCA as they pushed forward and chance after chance went begging, Stewart, Walton and Jennings all had half chances and on another day they would have converted at least one of them. Unfortunately it was not to be. Nobody could deny the commitment and the endeavour that was on display, especially in the second half, but there was also a determination and grittiness from Tow Law Town which in the end gave them the three points