Sunderland RCA 1 Norton and Stockton Ancients 0

Arngrove Northern League Division 2

Saturday, 1 March 2008

Sunderland RCA got back to winning ways against Norton and Stockton Ancients on saturday, but it was a close run thing. An Andy Jennings close range header from a Scott Richards cross in the 84th minute was all that separated the sides. The game was always going to be tough, with a strong wind blowing down the bank, and RCA had to play into it in the first half.

Jon Newton came in for the suspended Lee Owens, with Gary Shields moving out wide to accommodate him, and Scott Richards returning from suspension in place of Dean Goodwin. As was to be the pattern of the game, RCA started brightly playing into the gale, with Jon newton having good chances in the seventh and ninth minutes to break the deadlock. Norton then used the wind to have a succession of corners, but Jon Minniss's handling was exemplary and we got through it.

After 19 minutes Newton had the ball in the net for RCA, but it was adjudged offside. RCA continued to have the best of the play, but Jon Minniss needed to save sharply as he pushed a shot round after 27 minutes. RCA got in a number of good crosses without reward, and the ame was still goalless at the break.

As with RCA, Norton found it easier to play into the wind after half time, and pushed quite hard, with Jon Minniss pulling off a tremendous save after 57 minutes to keep things level.

The home team began to push Norton back, winning a number of corners, and with Ash Davis and Andy Middleton brought into things, RCA pressed hard. it looked like it was going to be in vain until Scott Richards took a corner from the right, had the ball played back out to him, and dropped a cross on Jennings head for the big target man to break through from a yard out. Norton couldn't come back and RCA held out well for a vital three points.