Thursday, 8 April 2010
Sunderland Sunday League Premier Division
RCA The Barnes commenced their long and arduous end of season programme with a hard fought victory against a skillfull and fully committed Roker oufit, only putting the game to bed with two goals in the last five minutes to emerge as 5 - 2 victors.
On a bumpy pitch and with a gusting cross field wind conditions were not ideal, but both teams adapted quickly, attempting to play football were it should be played: on the deck. After early exchanges RCA took the lead after ten minutes when a ball into the box from the right wing was controlled by Andy Gilbert and he volleyed home superbly. RCA should probably have gone further ahead, but Roker stormed back when great interplay down the right flank and released David Sewell into the box where he confidently shot across the keeper to draw Roker level.
Both sides then enjoyed equal ammounts of possession. John Turvey should have put RCA back in front only to delay his shot and allow the defender to block. The game then went RCA's way with two goals in the final 5 minutes of the half, both identical with first Andy Place and then John Turvey released through the inside left channel to cooly slip the ball past the advancing keeper to enable RCA to go into the break 3 - 1 up, albeit rather fortunately.
The second half saw Roker strike back almost immediately when after RCA's failure to properly clear their lines Billy Harrison chanced his arm from 25 yards and the ball flew into the top right hand corner of the net before the keeper could move. Both teams then went for the kill, but neither could produce any clear cut chances, despite enterprising play from all concerned, until in the 84th minute John Turvey was put in on the wide left. He held off a couple of challenges to slip the ball under the keeper from a narrow angle to reinstate RCA's two goal advantage. This was increased to three in the final minute when substitute Jonathan Davis drove home a free kick from 20 yards to give a final score of 5 - 2 to RCA.
Two semi-finals now on the next two Sundays, so loads to play for in a hectic end to the season, which could produce numerous rewards for all three Sunderland RCA teams. Long may it continue.