28 November 2009
Durham County Lomax Training Services Under 18s League
A good match was anticipated today with RCA hosting current South League Leaders Herrington Grindon Rangers and the crowd was not disappointed with some quality football on display and top draw defending from both teams.
Rangers came closest in the early exchanges a corner headed against the bar when Cheal got up well when challenged on the penalty spot area with the ball scrambled away. RCA responded with an effort from Lee Andrews was well gathered by Peter Jameson in goal. James Alston for RCA had a half chance when he found room in the penalty area but he fired over on the half hour. The same player beat the offside trap minutes later racing through with the keeper to beat he hit the ball well but just wide of the post.
RCA won a free kick before half time which looked a little too far out from goal but captain Jonny Davis hit it sweetly and this crashed against the Rangers Bar with the keeper beaten. Chances were created at both ends but the defences for both sides were very controlled and this meant 0 – 0 at half time.
Second half followed a similar vein to the first with both sides hitting the woodwork again. However after the hour mark and against the general run of play Rangers won an innocuous free kick mid way in the RCA half. The ball was hit long into the box and Rangers with height advantage again won the header which glanced on to the bar then across goal where Alex Ryan found himself unmarked to prod home. 0 – 1 to Rangers.
RCA responded with real spirit but were thwarted time after time by some great defending. In the last quarter, substitutions were made with an extra forward thrown up in all out attack. After good work down the right between Liam Cox and Nathaniel Crinson the ball was fired into the box and Andrews met with a great volley, surely the equaliser but no just over the bar. From a late corner RCA won the aerial challenge and the ball was headed goalwards, keeper beaten but a defender appeared to clear again. Shouts for the goal were ignored by the referee who to be fair stated he could not give a goal from his angle. Goal-line technology - it still would have been a tough call !
The referee blew the whistle to end a very good football match and the cheers from the Rangers players said it all. A very big three points for the visitors who have a strong advantage at the top of the league. Pleasing football for all the neutrals and the future looks very good for Senior football in Sunderland based on the quality showed by both sides.