Sunderland RCA 2 Prudhoe Town 1

Ernest Armstrong Memorial Cup

Tuesday, 21 October 2008

Our very last Cup competition of the season and supporters were looking forward hopefully to progressing in the Ernest Armstrong Memorial tonight. On a very cold night, it was also pleasing to get a crowd of above 60 and a decent atmosphere when many locals could have stopped at home to watch Champions League football, but nothing beats live Northern League football, does it.

Michael Ford who was signed on the day from Horden CW was immediately pitched into the fray by SRCA manager Neil Hixon, selected in central midfield, whilst Chris Youldon who has stepped up from our youth team made his starting debut. After 10 weeks off, it was also pleasing to see stalwart Wayne Henderson return to the starting line up in central defence.

Prudhoe won the toss and from the kick off quickly won possession off RCA and showed their intentions. The ball was moved around quickly as they looked to get forward with RCA pushing the ball out to safety on three occasions. A young Prudhoe team were very lively and a very good move on eight minutes saw central midfielder Mark Hewitson hit a long-range effort a few yards wide of the RCA goal. Against the general flow of the game RCA won the first corner in the tenth minute, but a good cross was wasted after a foul on a Prudhoe defender. From that free kick the ball moved back up the field and only some good defending prevented Prudhoe creating their first chance. On Prudhoe winning their first corner though on 15 minute the ball was not fully cleared and forward Mark McKewan tried a speculative effort that travelled well wide.

After 20 minutes RCA were finding their rhythm as the midfielders were bringing wide men Lee Owens and Michael Chapman into the game on the flanks. Owens was cutting in well and creating a lot of space which Tait was starting to exploit. On 25 minutes with his back to goal and marked tightly Owens knocked a speculative overhead kick ball, which was nearly met by on rushing forwards but cleared for a corner. A good cross again was wasted as it ran out of play for a goal kick. After good work down the left ending with a cross fired across the six yard box, Chris Youldon raced in at the back post, but could not fully connect and the ball glanced past the back post.

Ford and Youldon in midfield were getting more in the game and on 30 minutes the latter split the whole defence with a piercing ball that found centre forward Tait, but he fired a decent effort over the bar. RCA were taking control now with Owens winning consecutive free kicks, but the home team were not making use of good crosses, centre half Andy Reay though nearly stung the opposition, coming closest as he leapt like a salmon, but over bar. The game reached half time with a final free kick won by Prudhoe, but 30 yards from goal central defender Ryan Monaghan hit well over the bar.

Half time: 0 - 0

Prudhoe started the second half as lively as they did the first with McAnespire, Armstrong and Hewitson combining to bring in centre forward Liam Bell who was unlucky when trying to dribble round the last defender. It was the visitors who were the more likely now and forward Ben Haddock was also starting to show his lot, combining again with Bell and a long effort was drilled at goal which Shields dived well to save. On 60 minutes Henderson who had done well on his return to action was replaced by Anth Laidler at the back and minutes later Mark Davison replaced Chris Youldon up front. The shape of the team was more direct in a 4 - 3 - 3 formation and RCA started to ask all the questions now with Davison and Owens finding more space and causing the Prudhoe defence all kinds of problems.

After 70 minutes with the game moving with the home side, top scorer Andrew Jennings also entered the arena as a replacement for wide man Chapman. This was the final impetus as RCA dominated play and it seemed clearly a matter of time, but the forwards were thwarted by some excellent Prudhoe defending. On 74 minutes though the inevitable arrived, but from an unlikely source as full back David Lee was played in on the overlap and beating the last defender, rounded the keeper and finishing with aplomb firing into the net.

One way traffic now and Davison who was looking positive in every attacking movement then got in after some good work by Jennings and Owens gave him space to fire a good shot in to make it 2 - 0 in the eightieth minute. All involved at RCA might of thought that was it, but injuries to Tait and Lee meant that the home side had to complete the last eight minutes plus injury time with nine men. Prudhoe now realising that they had more space, pushed forward winning consecutive corners then free kicks. It definitely wasn't wrapped up. In the 87th minute the game really came to life again when number 10 Haddock played a one-two, then drilled a 22 yard screamer inside the right hand post, past the diving Shields. Stunned silence from the home support. In extra time RCA would only have nine men! Prudhoe threw bodies forward with RCA all back to defend, counter attacking by hitting the ball wide to Lee Owens to keep. Very exciting till the end when Prudhoe's final gamble was broken down by Moan and Laidler. RCA raced away with the ball which was retained in the top right hand corner until final whistle. Job done, still in the pond and through to the next round draw and no minnows left!