Sunderland RCA FC 3 Billingham Town FC 1

RCA's central defender Danny Wray takes on attacking duties in the second half of the match, where he's up against ex-RCA man and Billingham Town captain Michael Dalton.

Saturday, 15 March 2014

EBAC Northern League Division 1

Goalscorers: SRCA:  Barton (2), N. Wilson:   Bilingham Town: Dalton

Please click here for photos from the match.

Please click here for Neil Smith's photographs.

Further team selection problems beset the management team ahead of this crucial EBAC Northern League Div I fixture, Stephen Baynes and Andrew Brown were both sick, Philip Horsman foot injury and Joseph Hughes Holiday were also unavailable and Ross Wilkinson returning to Shildon did not help the situation.

The formation reverted to 4-4-2 with Jury returning to full back, Jack Stanger started in midfield, Shields on the right wing and Patton up front returning to the team. Looking at the team it looked a little unbalanced with no left sided players in the squad. There was some light on the horizon with the return of Kyle Morris to the bench  after a long lay-off with an ankle injury.

RCA started the game kicking up the slope and against a very strong blustery wind. As has become customary in recent matches RCA took the lead inside the first 2 minutes when a through ball from Stanger was chased down by Shields, the Billingham defender Hodgeson was first to the ball but his attempted back pass to Pisani was poor and the keeper mis kicked straight to Barton who made no mistake from 5 yards out.

It could so easily have been 2-0 a minute later when Halliday took a quick freekick to Shields who slipped into the box before crossing to Barton who powered in a header which was brilliantly saved by Pisani.

Billingham settled into the game and started to utilise the wind to their advantage in the 10 minute after some good work by Dalton and Hill the ball fell to Crust who fired over the bar from 25 yards out.

A quickly taken throw in by Dixon found Dalton and Billingham set up another attack this time Dalton played the ball into the path of Jackson who fired low but just wide of the upright.

RCA countered immediately as Carmichael found Stanger from the goalkick, he played the ball wide to Fryatt who clipped the ball first time into the middle of the park where Patton was completely free, his fierce drive was well saved by Pisani.

With Billingham forging forward with the assistance of the wind the RCA defence appeared to be coping well and looked fairly comfortable until the 30 minute when Fryatt was dipossesed on the half way line and the ball was sent forward, took a wicked bounce and landed at the feet of Dalton and the Billingham Town Captain did not need a second chance striking the ball into the roof of the net from 10 yards out.

There was a frantic end to the half with Shields sliding the ball through to Stanger who shot narrowly wide then at the other end a freekick by Ballantyne was headed into the arms of Carmichael by Horsley.

The second period took place almost entirely in the opposition half with RCA throwing the ball forward at every opportunity and Billingham defending supremely well.

Fryatt almost unlocked the Town defence with a mazy dribble which ended when Hodgson blocked the final shot.

Then Patton dribbled into the area only to be stopped by Hodgson and the ball fell kindly for Pisani.

A corner into the box by Patton was headed down by Preston and blocked on th eline by Jackson, in the gaolmouth scramble that followed the ball was cleared up field only to set up another RCA attack.

It looked likely the that game was going to end 1-1 as both teams looked to cancel each other out. Then in the 85 minute RCA were awarded a freekick 25 yards out up stepped substitute Nathan Wilson to strike in an absolute thunderbolt of a shot which rocketed into the net.

The final nail in the coffin of a very spirited Billingham Town team came in the 89 minute when a cross into the box found Barton who mishit his shot which struck Pisani but the rebound fell to Barton who scrambled it over the goal line.

Not a vintage performance but it was workmanlike effort in atrocious conditions. It was also a well earned three points which move us back up the table.

Billingham can take heart from this match and their recent form suggests that they are capable of mounting a challenge for promotion from the second division next season.

From RCA's point of view we have to make sure that the points earned today are not wasted and that we match or better all of Team Northumbria's results.

Next up is Penrith on Tuesday.