Sunderland RCA 0 Marske United 1

skilltraining Northern League

Tuesday, 14 October 2008

This was a very disappointing result on a miserable night at Meadow Park, as Marske staged a smash and grab raid to take all three points.

Despite the rain a decent crowd had turned out. RCA took the field showing a few changes from Saturday, with Andy Reay making his debut at centre half after signing from Nissan, young Michael Chapman returning to the side, wearing number two, but playing in his usual wide left position, Dean Godwin replacing the unavailable Mark McLeod in centre midfield, and Adam McGuiness and Anth Laidler taking places on the bench.

RCA started playing up the bank into the rain, but soon got into the game and had the better of the early exchanges, before Marske took the lead after ten minutes with a back post header from a corner, scored by an unmarked Stephen Cochrane. RCA were stung by this and worked hard to get back level, winning a number of corners, without reward, and knocking the ball about well in midfield. Marske were busy and effective as always, but Gary Hoggeth in the RCA goal was rarely involved. The best chance of the half fell to David Tait, who was beautifully played in by Dean Goodwin, only to push his shot past the post. 0-1 at the break.

For the second half Adsy McGuiness replaced Michael Chapman. Playing down the hill in the second half the pattern of the game was established early, with Marske defending deep and RCA having almost permanent possession of the ball, but struggling to create clear shooting openings. Andy Jennings will think he should have scored when in on the keeper after a couple of minutes, and Dean Goodwin and Buddy Halliday, took time out from dominating the midfield for both to have good shooting opportunities, but could not beat the keeper.

Marske were reduced to booting the ball clear and occasional forays, although from one they hit the bar from a very wide left position to remind RCA of their threat, but it looked as if the equaliser was only a matter of time. Anth Laidler came on for the weary Andy Reay, who had done well on his debut, and Sparky Davison replaced David Tait, who had also battled well, up front.

The half wore on, the pressure continued but the goal would not come. As the last quarter started the Marske right back in particular came to prominence, with a string of superb last ditch tackles to deny shooting opportunities to Jennings, Goodwin and Davision. By this time the game was very congested, and it was clear that Marske thought they could hang on and defy whatever we threw at them. A last turn and shot from Jennings, which the keeper saved comfortably, a final couple of corners, from one of which the ball rebounded from a convenient backside into the keeper's arms, a free kick by Lee Owens that was scrambled clear and that was that. Marske showed that when your luck is in you keep winning despite the performance and make it eight in a row, and RCA are left wondering how on earth we lost the game.