Friendly

Saturday, 22 July 2006

Our first friendly saw the first team squad in action in a highly competitive match away to Arngrove First Division club Shildon AFC. This was the first friendly of six whereby manager Steve Smith was hoping to assess the fitness and potential of his squad.

Sunderland RCA started brightly with several good moves breaking down at crucial points, mostly on the edge of the box.

Although chances were rare in the early exchanges it was clear that there would be little to separate both teams. As the first half wore on it was the experienced Shildon team who began to take control and only excellent goal keeping kept the score 0-0 at half time.

In the second half both teams rang the changes and it was to no surprise when the lively Shildon forwards broke through to open the scoring early in the second half. This did not deter the youthful SRCA team who battled throughout and deservedly equalised.

A good workout was experienced with manager Steve Smith and his assistant Karl Langley declaring that there were 'more positives than negatives to come out of the game' and 'this is certainly a platform to build on'.

Friendly

Tuesday, 25 July 2006

Sunderland RCA more than held their own throughout and took an early lead through Craig (Sid) Ellison - a great finish.

Slack defending cost us for the equaliser to make it 1 - 1 at half time.

Nissan took an early lead in the second half through a goal keeping error. However not too long after we got our rewards with a well taken reply from John Butler.

It was another good workout, where we deserved at least a draw. Again, Steve made wholesale changes to have a fair look at everyone.

Friendly

Saturday, 29 July 2006

Speed of thought, skill and bottle in the face of the
on-rushing Chester goalkeeper led to the first goal
of the match for SRCA number nine Willie Crew.

Our first friendly at home.

It was a tremendous display for the first hour, but we then lost our shape due to changes.

Willie Crew got both our goals. The first was a just goal when he ran at the goalkeeper and forced a rebound into the net. The second a class finish lobbing the keeper. At this point we were cruising.

In the second half with better luck we may have been four up, however due to fair changes in personnel and, it has to be said, abysmal defending we conceded two goals.