Thursday, 6 May 2010
Sunderland Sunday Premier League
RCA The Barnes, after slipping up last Tuesday losing 1 - 0, against Roker, then defeating Catholic Club 4 - 2 on the Thursday and Myers by 5 - 0 on Sunday, faced a crunch game against Premier League Champions Hastings Athletic in their quest for the runners up spot in the league.
RCA were missing both centre forwards, Crew and Turvey, influential defender Neil Moan and the injured leading goal scorer Martin Metcalfe, whilst Hastings were also understrength with midfielder Adam McGuinness having to don the keeper's jersey in John Minniss's absence due to work.
RCA started strongly and built up momentum, without creating any worthwhile openings before Hastings got their game together and started to pass the ball impressively with RCA keeper Atkinson having to be alert to a couple of half chances. However it was RCA who then created three decent chances in the last 15 minutes of the half, when Andy Place first had a shot well saved and then headed straight at the keeper from eight yards when he really should have done better. Andy Gilbert then had a great chance just on half time when he hit a low cross against keeper McGuinness from close range, to leave a half time score of 0 - 0.
The second half continued in much the same vein with Hastings playing attractive football, but finding the RCA rearguard of McVay, Curtis, captain Hall and Dunn in impressive form. RCA then had another couple of half decent chances, but they failed to capitalise, and as is the way Hastings then took the lead with 15 minutes left, when following a right wing corner Hastings defender Toomey headed downwards from 10 yards and the ball somehow found its way through a crowd of legs and finished barely 12 inches over the line to give Hastings the lead.
RCA however were not disheartened and struck back almost immediately when Mick Curtis had a goal bound header blocked, following a corner, and the ball rebounded to skipper Phil Hall who blasted it into the roof of the net from six yards to draw RCA level.
RCA knew they had to try to get the winner and continued to press forward, but Hastings were always dangerous on the break, and from one such the ball was played through to Hastings forward Rochester whose shot was dispatched across to the keeper's left and looked a goal all day, but Atkinson had other ideas and brilliantly pushed it away and Hall completed the clearance. This proved pivotal, as, three minutes later and with just five minutes left on the clock, a free kick from wide on the right hand side was delivered by Jonathan Davis and Andy Place timed his run to perfection to head home from six yards out to put RCA 2 - 1 ahead.
Hastings though were not finished and a free kick from 20 yards produced a comfortable save from Atkinson and a final minute inswinging corner fizzed across the face of the RCA goal. The final whistle went after the subsequent goal kick to give RCA the victory they needed to leave runner up spot in their own hands.
Grangetown Florists can still challenge if they defeat Hastings and then defeat RCA in the final league game, but RCA do enjoy a seven goal advantage in goal difference.
Two cup finals to look forward to now, starting on Sunday, 9 May against Plains Farm in the Joe Holborn Memorial Cup with a 10:30 am kick off and then on Thursday, 13 May, against Grangetown Florists in the Total Sport Challenge Trophy with a 6:30 pm kick off. Both games take place at Ryhope CW, so why not get along and see what should be two cracking games.