Saturday, 18 February 2012

STL Northern League Division 1

Super Joe! Joe Walton breaks for the Tow Law byline to make the cross for Gary Shields to open the scoring for RCA. Joe's pace and power also laid on the second and third goals.

Click here for a slideshow of photos from the match

Click here the SportsByte report on the match

Sky Tyne and Wear video of match goals

Sunderland RCA moved up to second in the League exacting revenge for the defeat they suffered at the Ironworks Road ground earlier in the season. In the end this was a comfortable victory against a team who are second off bottom in the league.

RCA welcomed two new faces to the squad with the full debut of Craig James at left back and the introduction of Robert Briggs on the bench. The pre match warm up looked to have been changed and the partnership of Shields and Davison up front really paid dividends as the oldest player on the books Gary Shields produced a man of the match performance.

After the enforced lay off due to the bad weather lately it was great to be back in action. The wind which has accompanied all but one of our home fixtures also returned making conditions difficult to play attractive football.

RCA made wholesale changes for this match, new signing James slotting in at left back, Paxton and Oates re-united to form the central defensive partnership, McGuinness was pushed forward into the left wing position and Shields was brought in to partner Davison up front.

The game started slowly, with no tempo to the game. Both teams seemed to be taking time to adjust to the bitterly cold wind. RCA created the first chance on five minutes when a cross from Walton found Davison who slipped the ball to Shields, but his shot cleared the crossbar.

As the match progressed it seemed that the RCA midfield was being stifled by the hard tackling Lawyers midfield. McGuinness created a chance for Davison in the tenth minute but the striker headed straight at Gordon.

A spark of life was injected into the game when Oates won the ball in midfield and played it to Close. He combined with Cuthbertson before sending a lovely pass to Walton who beat the full back before curling in a great cross which both Davison and Shields were inches from touching into the net.

Tow Law took inspiration from this to create their first effort on goal when Robson won the ball and played in Nixon who turned and fired in a low shot which Atkinson did well to turn round the post for a corner. Herbert took the corner and Luke Thompson, powering in at the back post sent his header over the bar.

Once again the game got bogged down in the midfield with little in the way of chances for either team and neither keeper being troubled.

RCA took the lead in the 34th minute when a brilliant piece of play saw Walton turn two defenders before crossing into the box for Shields to slam home from five yards out.

As the half progressed RCA became more dominant and the Lawyers were reduced to the odd counter attack with Nixon the main threat. RCA should have doubled their lead just before half time when Jones and Walton combined, but the final effort from Jones was easily saved by Gordon.

RCA were forced to make a substitution at half time when the injured Cuthbertson made way for new signing Briggs. The second half started with a bang as Walton raced onto a beautiful through ball from Paxton before crossing for Close to slot home in almost a carbon copy of the first goal.

It was almost one way traffic for the next 20 minutes as RCA mounted wave upon wave of attacks on the Lawyers goal. Davison headed over and Walton, bursting through fired over and Shields forced a save from Gordon. Briggs settled into the midfield slot and produced a lovely through ball to Close, the RCA captain was tripped and a freekick was awarded. Davison took charge and fired in a thunderbolt of a shot which flew inches over the bar with Gordon stranded.

The Lawyers only real chance of the half came in the 66th minute when a ball played out of defence was held up by Nixon before he played in Waters, he in turn crossed into the box and Paxton had to be at his best to turn the ball away for a corner with Nixon in close attendance.
From the corner RCA cleared up field to Shields who held the ball up before playing in Jones, his cross was met by Davison, but he could only steer his header wide of the target.

Within a minute Shield had the opportunity to sew the game up, a high ball from Oates seemed to have caught the Lawyers defence napping and Shields nipped in to lob the keeper, the ball struck the inside of the post and rebounded into the grateful arms of Gordon.

Most of the half had been dominated by RCA but Town Law had stuck to their guns and defended well. However it was a mistake in the Lawyers' defence which saw the home team extend their lead and it was once again Walton who supplied a sublime cross into the path of Shields and he made no mistake from close range.

RCA kept control of the game and saw out the final five minutes without much trouble.

This was an all round team performance that broke the hearts of the Tow Law faithful. Marske up next will pose a different threat and as with all games in the STL Northern League there are no easy ones.

Tuesday, 21 February 2012

STL Northern League Division 1

Only one change to the team that won on Saturday with Briggs coming in for the sidelined Cuthbertson who looks likely to be out for some time with a torn groin muscle.

Once again a really strong wind looked likely to cause major problems for the players, I can't remember a season when there has been so many games affected by the wind.

Marske took advantage of the strong wind in the first half and went on the offensive from the start pushing RCA back. A long range effort from McGill set the tempo for the half with Marske pushing forward and RCA defending and using a counter attacking policy.

Marske came close to opening the scoring when a long ball out of defence by Carling bounced kindly for Brunskill, but the striker could only steer his effort wide of the upright.

RCA withstood the early pressure and started to put some good passing moves together, McGuinness cutting in from the left slid the ball to Briggs who in turn passed the ball to Davison, but he shot over from ten yards out.

A promising move between Ormerod and McGill came to nothing as the final ball got swept away on the wind and Atkinson was able to pick up the pieces.
The game was becoming very scappy and chances were few and far between.

RCA’s best chance of the half came when Briggs swept the ball out to Walton whose cross was met by McGuinness at the far post and he laid the ball into the path of Shields who fired in a shot but Willey pulled off a miraculous save to keep the scores level.

Marske once again forced RCA back on the defensive but couldn’t find the finishing touch in the final third.

As the game entered the last five minutes of the half, RCA looked to be taking control of the game and looked quite comfortable.

The second half started explosively with Walton sprinting past the full back before swinging in a cross which looked to strike a Marske defender on the hand before being cleared; the penalty appeal was turned down.

Within five minutes RCA took the lead when again Walton got to the by line, this time his cross found its way to the back post where McGuinness was waiting and had the simplest of tap ins.

RCA were rampant now and wave upon wave of attacks were being repelled by a strong defensive partnership of Carling and Marron.

In the 75th minute RCA were awarded a penalty when Close was brought down in the process of shooting after being put through by Davison. Walton stepped up and sent Willey the wrong way with his spot kick.

Jennings, on for Shieldsm went close to making it 3-0 with a curling shot which went narrowly wide and Berj was guilty of an amazing miss when he was clear of the Marske defence but, possibly thinking he was offside, he hesitated and gave Willey the opportunity to save at his feet.

Marske finished the game on the attack trying to salvage something as RCA tired, but the visiting defence were never really troubled and were well worth the three points.

Tuesday, 28 February 2012

STL Northern League Division 1

Sky Tyne and Wear video of match goals, ambulance and interview with Neil Hixon

Tonight's game was held up for 50 minutes when, in the 76th minute, Robert Briggs, on loan from Gateshead FC, fell awkwardly on his right arm and an ambulance was called. The initial diagnosis is a broken humorous and we understand that he will be undergoing an operation later today (Wednesday) to reset the bone. We all wish him a full and speedy recovery.

The match itself saw Sunderland RCA continue to find it difficult to play at home, for all their superiority in the first half they failed to convert chances into goals until the 40th minute. Then two quick goals from McGuinness and Briggs saw them take a 2-0 lead into the half time break.

It looked like game over but the second half saw Stokesley battling hard and starting to create chances of their own and after the extended break they were awarded penalty which Porritt converted to set up a very nervy final five minutes.

RCA entertained bottom club Stokesley SC knowing that a win would take them back to the top of the STL Northern League Division 1. The manager made one change from the team that beat Marske United last week bringing in Berg for the rested Walton. The match kicked off in unusually calm condition with Stokesley taking advantage of the slope in the first half. However it was RCA who were the more dominant in the opening exchanges and it took a good save from Hutchinson to deny Davison after five minutes when the RCA striker powered in a header from a Jones cross. Within a minute Davison turned provider as he sent a ball into the Stokesley box, Briggs rose highest to head into the path of Berj, but he curled his shot just wide of the upright.

In the tenth minute RCA were awarded a corner which was swung in by McGuinness and Briggs headed narrowly over the bar.

Stokesley withstood the pressure and slowly started to make in road into the RCA defence, a strong run by Dunford in the 13th minute saw him beat two defenders before cutting the ball back for Porritt, but the Stokesley forward hurried his shot and it sail well wide of the target.

A long ball out of defence by Atkinson almost caught the Stokesley defence napping as Shield was first to the ball, he squared it to Davison who cut the ball onto his right foot before firing over the bar.

Berj should have opened the scoring on 22 minutes when he was set up by Close but Hutchinson once again made a terrific save to deny the RCA midfielder.

RCA were pressing for an opening goal and when Shields beat the Hutchinson to a high ball he squared it to Davison who, with the keeper out of position, fired at the empty net only to see Mohan somehow manage to head the ball off the line. It was relentless pressure by RCA and Davison was twice denied by the acrobatic saves of Hutchinson. Stokesley’s only response at this time was a cross shot from their captain Holbrook, which had Atkinson scrambling across his line but the ball went wide. Eventually, the RCA pressure told and it was McGuinness who broke the deadlock in the 38th minute when he picked up the ball 35 yards out, strode into space before unleashing an exquisite left foot drive low into the far corner.

RCA made it 2-0 on the stroke of half time when they were awarded a corner. McGuinness swung the ball into the box and Briggs was well place to head home from 8 yards out. Game over one would have thought.

Stokesley came out for the second half really fired up and took the game to RCA. A positional change at half time saw Bivens moved to a more forward position and he almost reduced the arrears when he headed a Davies cross goalward and it took a tremendous save from Atkinson to keep the score at 2-0. More was to follow from Stokesley, a corner was headed away by Oates but only went as far as Porritt who fired the ball back toward goal and Atkinson was forced to make another save at the foot of the post. RCA needed to step up a gear and this they did; a freekick by James was headed over the bar Paxton and three minutes later the same player rattled the bar with a header from a Briggs corner.

In the 65th minute once again a surging run from Close saw him in space, The RCA captain chose to set Berj up instead of shooting himself and unfortunately Berj, with only the keeper to beat shot wide of the target.

In the 70th minute a lovely pass from Briggs set up Shields, his shot beat the keeper but rebounded off the post to safety.

In the 76th minute, Briggs challenging for a high ball fell awkwardly on his right arm and the game was stopped while the physio assessed the problem. It was obvious almost immediately that there was serious problem and an ambulance was called. The game was delayed for 50 minutes waiting for an ambulance, although a paramedic arrived to administer initial pain relief. When the game restarted, RCA where left with ten men to see out the final 14 minutes.

Whether the injury to one of their players affected them or whether Stokesley took advantage of the extra man is debatable.

Stokesley were awarded penalty with five minutes to go when Davies was brought down in the box and Porritt made no mistake with the spot kick. This set up an interesting last five minutes, but RCA held on for all three points taking them back to the top of the league.