Sunderland RCA 3 Darlington RA 1

Arngrove Northern League Division 2

Saturday, 3 November 2007

Another good win for RCA, the third league win on the trot, fourth in the last five matches, and one which pushes into the top half of the league table for the first time in a few years.

Darlington RA came into the game having lost their manager during the previous week, but they looked up for things and started strongly with most of the possession in the first quarter of an hour. Mossy and Wayne held firm at the centre of defence and then, with our first real attack, Gary Shields gave us the lead in the fifteenth minute as he reacted quickest to a ball that found its way right across the six yard box, and squeezed his shot into the corner.

Darlington continued to press, but RCA were looking lively on the break as the pace of Shields and Owens stretched the RA defenders time after time. At the other end Craig Shields in the RCA goal had little to do bar catch a few hopeful crosses and field backpasses.

The score stayed 1-0 at the half time interval.

The second half started in much the same vein as Darlo pressed, and we looked sharp in return.

Gary got his second on the hour with a quick break, and the side relaxed and played their best football of the game. The two substitutes combined for the third as Lee Bell made a great run into the box and found Taz Raine at the far post to slot home. RA got a consolation late on but RCA saw out time very comfortably to secure the vital win.