Ryhope Colliery Welfare 1 Sunderland RCA 2

Allan Thompson Memorial Cup

Wednesday, 01 August 2007

Two-goal hero Jon Butler is presented with the Allan Thompson Memorial Cup
by Allan's brother Jimmy.

Sunderland RCA made the short journey up the bank to face neighbours Ryhope CW in the annual Alan Thompson Memorial Cup match. Having played the previous night against Washington, this was likely to be a long night for the RCA, with numbers already short due to injuries, holidays and work, RCA lost Moss, Hill, Matthews and Anderson from the previous night's squad.

The game started with RCA playing a 3-5-2 formation and from the outset taking the game to the CW. With some sharp interplay between Dixon, Goodwin and Jarvis, RCA should have been three up in the opening 20 minutes, but wasteful finishing saw the CW stay in the game. Jarvis fired wide from the edge of the area when unchallenged, Andrews shot wide when in a great position from a Dixon through ball, Butler headed wide from a corner when unchallenged three yards out, and from the move of the game Goodwin was put clear by Dixon only to shoot straight at the keeper.

The CW were starting to work their way into the game, and their direct route up to the front two unsettled a new, untried RCA back three. A shot saved by Lawson was pushed straight to former RCA man Gareth Hill, who, with the keeper still on the ground, fired wide of the far post. Hill then had a volley hit the post, and Jordan lashed the rebound high and wide. RCA continued to be on top, although however their passing became more sporadic and attacks repeatedly broke down around the CW box.

The CW toool the lead opwards the end of the first half. A long ball was launched down their right hand side, and when this was not dealt with, RCA's Laidler and Henderson both got sucked out of their central areas and a ball into the box, left the CW forward with a free header that just rolled into the far corner via the post.

This sparked a frenetic last few minutes of the half. When the ball dropped it was played forward to Andrews, whose collision with the full back resulted in a free kick to the CW. This produced an angry response from former RCA player Hill, and after prolonged and repeated warnings from the referee, he was substituted right on half time.

At the start of the second half and galvanised by the lead the CW were working and closing down RCA with great endeavour. The game lost a lot of its shape, and RCA began to go long and hopeful, resulting in scrappy play, and very little in the way of controlled possession and goalscoring chances.

With 20 minutes of the game remaining, RCA keeper Niki Lawson was fouled when he came for a high ball into the box, and although he continued for five minutes, he was replaced in goal by Barry Massey. Lawson was taken to hospital and has sustained concussion and damaged ribs.

RCA brought on Peel and reverted to a 4-4-2 system in the hope of shortening their passing. Laidler and Jarvis were now gaining good ground down the left, and RCA began to get back on top. From a clearance by Massey, Andrews flicked on and with hesitation in the CW back four, Butler burst through the back line and fired emphatically past Burlinson.

RCA were now looking for a winner and right at the end of the game Laidler and Jarvis combined down the left. Laidler raced towards the box only to be blatantly tripped from behind. Jarvis swung in a great free kick to the far post. Butler attacked the ball, easily climbing above a static defender to head firmly home for the winner.