Sunderland RCA FC 0 Darlington 1883 4

A packed Ray Baines Stand, as nearly 500 people attended the Northern League fixture between RCA and Darlington on 3 April 2013. Good luck to Darlington, who are an excellent team and club.

Wednesday, 3 April 2013

EBAC Northern League Division 1

Goalscorers: 1883: Thompson (2), Scott, Johnson.

Over 450 turned up to watch this second encounter between RCA And Darlington 1883 in the last five days.

RCA made a number of changes to the team, giving a debut to new signing Adam Drysdale who replaced the injured Richards, Redman replaced Wardle who was also carrying a knock and Home-Jackson came in for Clarke.

Three goals in the last seven minutes saw Darlington record their 14th win in a row, as the Quakers ran out 4-0 winners at Sunderland RCA.

Time and again this season RCA have fallen victim to the late strike, if every game was decided on 85 minutes then we would probably have an extra 10 points on the board. Not that it would have made any difference tonight as there were three superb strikes in the last seven minutes of the game.

Was it just four days ago that RCA were beaten 7-2 at Heritage Park? Tonight was a different matter as RCA set out their stall from the outset getting men behind the ball and hitting quickly on the break. This was a much more resilient performance from the team.

Darlington, with the advantage of the slope in the first half, struggled to create any clear cut chances in the early stages of the contest and it wasn't until the 14th minute that they had a shot on target. Thompson took a freekick from 25 yards out which forced Foden into a brilliant one handed save, turning the ball round the post.

The game was being played mainly in midfield with both teams unable to produce a telling final ball. Nicholls fired over the crossbar after 17 minutes.

A clearance from Marron was missed by Brown and fell to Owens, but he lobbed his shot over the bar from 12 yards out.

Shortly after this miss RCA were hit with a double blow when Gordon limped off with a groin injury and within five minutes he was followed into the dug out by Home-Jackson with a pulled hamstring.

Thompson, as he did on Saturday seemed to be central to Darlington's attacking flair and he almost gave them the lead on the half hour mark when he fired just wide of the post as RCA were adjusting to the second substitution.

Two minutes later, he picked the ball up on the left and drove into the box, where he was seemed to ride the first challenge, but was caught and a penalty was awarded. Thompson as on Saturday, fired the ball into the net, sending Foden the wrong way.

It was turning into the Thompson v Foden show as the Darlington forward was unlucky with a shot after some good build up play by Scott and Emms.

RCA were being forced to defend deep, but they were doing so really well and in the 40th minute a ball from McGuinness found Pattison on the left. The winger cut inside and then instead of shooting he chose to pass to Owens and Brown was able to get across to clear.

In the final minute of the half Gott forced a great save out of Foden firing in a low shot from a freekick  which the keeper did well to turn away for a corner.

This was to be his last contribution to the game as he limped off at half time with a groin / hip problem.

As with the first half RCA continued to frustrate Darlington and showed great battling qualities without setting the game alight in the final third of the pitch.

RCA's best chance of the half fell to Pattison, but the winger was again guilty of hesitancy and the ball was taken off his foot by Brown.

Darlington’s fitness began to tell as the game drifted into the final 15 minutes and Purewal came close poking a shot over the bar from 15 yards.

RCA must have thought that they could pinch a draw as they piled men forward for a corner in the 80th minute, only for Bell to pluck the ball out of the air and send it straight to Thompson who again cut inside onto his right foot, but fired over.

With seven minutes left, another darting run by Thompson, who looked to have the whole pitch to himself, saw him go past two defenders before playing a one-two with Johnson before lifting an exquisite chip over the keeper from 20 yards and into the net.

Within a minute it was 3-0 as Scott moved into the area and, with the RCA defence at sixes and sevens, stroked the ball past substitute keeper Ball and into the net.

Super sub Johnson as he is becoming known as, continued his record of scoring from the bench when he made it 4-0 in the 88th minute with a simple tap in after a goalmouth scramble.

RCA did show glimpses of the commitment needed to compete against the best in the league, but in the end it was fitness which did it for Darlington, Fitness and Finishing.

Thompson was once again almost unplayable, but there were some notable performances from RCA tonight, Close led by example, Redman could establish himself at this level in the future and debutant Drysdale kept Gott quiet for most of the game. Everyone played a part until that dreaded last ten minutes.

Keep the faith.