Sunderland RCA FC 1 Durham City FC 1

New signing Jamie Clarke is tracked by Durham City and ex-RCA defender James Oates in the first half of the match.

Saturday, 2 February 2013

EBAC Northern League Division 1

Please click here for photos from the match.

A 10.00am inspection of the pitch was positive and the efforts of John Anderson, Dave Hill and Graham Defty were rewarded with our first match since the away defeat to Newton Aycliffe FC on 12 January 2013. Although the playing surface was very soft in places and liable to cut up.

The return of Ross Preston meant that the back four had a familiar ring to it, however the same cannot be said of the midfield as Kane was swithched inside and Monson and Rivers took on the roles of wide men.

RCA also gave a debut to Jamie Clarke partnering Guerin-Lokonga up front.

Durham City included in their squad Ex RCA player James Oates while RCA boasted at least 3 ex Durham City players in theirs. 

Although the state of the pitch was obviously going to play a part in the quality of football, the players started the match trying to play good football.

RCA created the first chance of the game when a cross from Monson was punched clear by Young, the ball fell to Close and the RCA Skipper curled the ball past Young but agonisingly wide of the far post.

As the game literally got bogged down in midfield it was clear that this was going to be a hard Battle.

A rare glimpse of magic from Rivers, on Work Experience from Middlesbrough, saw him collect a ball from Guerin-Lokonga, before bursting into the box, unfortunately he decided to shoot into the side netting when a better option might have been to square the ball to Clarke waiting in acres of space six yards out.

Minutes later and a long clearance from Madden found Fenwick, he played a quick 1-2 with Ward before unleashing a terrific shot which forced Graham into an outstanding save, turning the ball round the post for a corner.

Durham took the lead in somewhat fortuitous circumstances, a well aimed pass from Hotchkiss found Stoker who made a good run up the wing before crossing into the box where Parker was on hand to volley the ball into the roof of his own net.

RCA almost replied immediately when Monson flicked a pass into the path of Guerin-Lokonga who then fired wide of the far post with only the keeper to beat.

As the game became scrappy there were little mistakes creeping in and when Buzzeo picked up the ball from a misplaced pass, his cross into the box evaded Young and seemed destined for the head of Clarke but somehow Madden was able to get a little touch on the ball and Galloway cleared.

As the game approached half time Durham almost made it 2-0, Stoker crossed into the ox again, this time Ward got to the ball first but hit the post, the ball rebounded to Allen who looked certain to score from 3 yards out but an amazing block tackle from Buzzeo forced the ball away for a corner.

The second period started in much the same vein as the first with both teams serving up some decent football in deteriorating conditions.

Fenwick and Ward were playing well up front for Durham and in the 50 minute the two of them combined to force a great save from Graham and Ward really should have put the game beyond RCA reach when he latched onto a mistake by Parker, raced beyond the RCA defence but fired well over the bar.

RCA came back into the game and when Guerin-Lokonga forced a corner they were rewarded for their endeavour with an equaliser. From the corner kick the ball fell to Kane who shot, Young pulled of a tremendous one handed save and the ball rebounded 10 yards out, unfortunately for the City Keeper it fell to Preston who slammed the ball into the roof of the net.

Both sides when in search of the winner and as legs tired it was looking more and more likely that a mistake could win the game.

Clarke came closest for RCA when a cross from Guerin-Lokonga fell to the veteran striker but, at full stretch, he could only clip the ball wide of the post.

The final flurry of the game saw Durham pushing forward but the closest that they came was a number of Headers from corners which flew harmlessly over the bar and a poor freekick from the edge of the box.

Given the conditions this was an entertaining game played in the right spirit, between two teams who look destined to be playing in the first division next term.

Durham’s shaky start to the season and RCA’s little mid-season blip seem to have evaporated and both teams look decent enough to stay up.