Sunderland RCA 0 Ryton 1

Arngrove Northern League Division 2

Saturday, 19 April 2008

There was bitter disappointment for RCA today as all hopes of promotion went with a single goal defeat to rivals Ryton. To be fair the scoreline flattered RCA as Ryton were the better side throughout the game, as many RCA players failed to raise their game against determined opponents in good form.

Our bad run has come at just the wrong time, when we had no room to spare. Ryton started the game playing up the hill and with a good contingent of their supporters in the crowd. The early exchanges were fairly even, but Ryton soon began to get on top, and it was no surprise when they took the lead after 25 minutes, but with what was a very sloppy goal.

A bad clearance from keeper Minniss, who struggled badly with his distribution all game, was followed by loose passing in midfield and led to RCA giving the ball away in their own half as a Ryton player sprinted forward. He still looked second favourite to get to the ball but fatal hesitation from Jon Minniss in the RCA goal let Ryton's Liam McBryde in for a simple finish.

This stung RCA and we pressed a little, but Ryton always looked the stronger side, and the home team faced a mountain at the break, needing a win to stay alive.

The second half followed the pattern of the first with Ryton always the sharper side, and it looked like being a terminal blow when Sunderland RCA skipper Scott Richards was sent off in the 60th minute as a Ryton player made a meal of minimal contact.

Strangely the dismissal had the opposite effect as RCA came more into the game with ten men, possibly as Ryton realised how close they were to their promotion goal. Even so it looked too little too late when RCA were awarded a penalty in the 88th minute, but matters were settled when the usually deadly Gary Shields slid the spot kick wide.

On the final whistle the Ryton players and fans celebrated as RCA faced up to at least another year in the second flight.