Sunderland RCA 3 Seaham Red Star 4

Pre-season friendly

Saturday, 28 July 2007

Sunderland RCA entered the game with no fewer than 13 players missing due to holidays, work commitments and injuries. However there were massive plusses with Wayne Henderson playing his first game for over a year and Kev Dixon making his home debut.

The game started at a good pace and both sides showing a competitive edge. RCA started well and were looking lively, and played some neat and crisp football. After five minutes Butler won a great header, flicking into the path of Crew who released Middleton down the right, but with time and space he crossed straight into the keeper's hands. In their next attack Middleton was fouled, Jarvis swung in a great cross that Butler headed just wide of the far post.

On 10 minutes Seaham attacked, but Bell shot from some 40 yards and this rolled tamely through to Lawson. Seaham attacked down the left hand side on 15 minutes, Toft beat two defenders and rolled the ball to Lumsdon who fired high and wide.

The next 15 minutes saw Seaham forcing the pace and when RCA lost the ball through Henderson, Byrne raced clear, beating the offside trap only for Lawson to save well. Seaham then took advantage of some dreadful play from Hembrough, who gave the ball away, Bell crossed from the right, Lawson completely missed the cross and Toft picked out Jennings on the far post to head into empty net from three yards. RCA went straight on the attack and Butler released Crew, a low hard drive produced a great save from Finch, and as Jarvis followed up he unleashed a pile driver from 12 yards that was somehow brilliantly turned away by Finch.

Just before the half hour mark Seaham increased their lead, when a ball into the box was not dealt with. Anderson hacked weakly clear and Lumsdon fired into the bottom right hand corner. RCA again pushed forward and from a cross from Peel on the right hand side Butler fired wide.

On 37 minutes Seaham won a corner and again a misjudgement from Lawson saw the kick directly hit the back post and be cleared to safety by Anderson. On 42 minutes Laidler and Hembrough combined down the left hand side, some swift passing got Hembrough free in the box but Finch saved well, low to his left. From the resulting corner Anderson climbed above everyone only to see his header thunder onto the bar and behind to safety.

Half Time 0-2

The second half saw RCA change to a 3-5-2 formation with Henderson pushing up into the midfield. This brought a big improvement for the home side who started to really press. Two minutes in Henderson and Jarvis combined, only for the latter to fire wide from the edge of the box. On 52 minutes Dixon and Jarvis played some quick passes. Jarvis skipped past Goodwin but again shot wide.

On the hour RCA were finally rewarded for some good attacking play when Henderson played in Butler, who in turn rolled Maw inside the box only to be pulled down from behind. From the resulting penalty Crew fired low and hard into the bottom right hand corner sending Finch the wrong way.

On 65 minutes RCA levelled when Crew played Middleton in behind the Seaham defence, and as he headed towards goal he was clumsily brought down for another penalty. Crew again fired low and hard to the same corner, easily beating Finch.

On 65 minutes Goodwin flicked the ball forward for Seaham, Byrne collected and spun Anderson on the edge of the box, only to fire wildly over the top. RCA went on the attack again and a great ball out wide from Henderson released Butler, who skipped passed the defender and crosses cleverly for Crew to fire under Finch from six yards, giving him a hat trick and RCA a 3-2 lead.

In the 79th minute Dixon spread the play wide to the left, Butler evaded a challenge from Toft, and fired a great drive towards the far corner. With Finch well beaten the ball thudded off the far post and out for a goal kick. Seaham again lost the ball in the opposition half and with time and space to play RCA needlessly went backwards to Lawson. Unchallenged Lawson scuffed his attempted clearance straight to Jennings, he then squared to Byrne who rolled it into the empty net to level again at 3-3. With Seaham having made several changes and RCA's attacking efforts, the shortage of bodies was now starting to tell on the home side. As the game was drawing to a close Peel stumbled on the ball just outside the box, Newby picked up the loose ball and ran straight past a static home defence to slot past Lawson and give Seaham the lead. As the clock ticked down RCA produced the final attack of the game and when the ball was crossed in, Crew looked certain to score. But from two yards out and with the goal at his mercy, he somehow managed to fire wide.