Alan Thompson Memorial Trophy

Tuesday, 1 August 2006

This was an excellent competitive match before a good and enthusiastic crowd for the Alan Thompson Memorial Trophy. Sunderland RCA had the better of the first half, passing the ball well, hitting the bar and missing a couple of other good chances, while Niki Lawson in the RCA goal also had to be alert on a couple of occasions as Ryhope CW pressed on the break.

At half time the game was goalless, but John Butler opened the scoring for the RCA early in the second half. Ryhope CW pressed hard after this and when it looked as if their efforts were going to be in vain, Gavin McGuinness came up with an excellent lob over the keeper ten minutes from the end. There was still time for RCA to make a couple of good chances to win the game but it was not to be and it finished all square, with the trophy shared for this year, and more importantly £300 raised for local charities.

Northern League

Saturday, 12 August 2006

There will have been a lot to say about this match and most of it will have been said behind a closed dressing room door. On a very uneven pitch, Sunderland RCA were often overrun and caught out at the back by a rampant Ryton, who had a very effective, new centre forward. The score line does not do justice to our lads though, because at times we were well in the match, threatening and playing some nice football. We did not, though, have Ryton’s directness. Definitely a match from which to learn, forget and move on.

Northern League

Tuesday, 15 August 2006

Our first ANL home match – and on a much better playing surface than we had for Saturday – and well done to Owen for the last minute line marking duties! While we had been on the end of an 8 – 0 score four days before, Alnwick had played out a 1 – 1 draw in their first match. Expectations of a turn around were high. Unfortunately, it was not to be. Alnwick went three up in the first half before Willie Crew pulled us a goal back. In the second half they piled on the misery with two more goals, with Willie getting his second and our consolation goal towards the end of the game. Alnwick played direct football and our defending lacked organisation and marking leaving too much space for the Alnwick attack to run into and to have time on the ball in and around our penalty area. This was a more frustrating match than at Ryton. At times Sunderland RCA played some really neat football – one move on the right during the first half was really terrific – but we lacked the directness of play shown by both Ryton and Alnwick, making life more difficult for our forwards. Plenty to work on as we head into a series of home games against some tough sides, but good play too, which should soon translate into results.

Northern League

Saturday, 19 August 2006

The RCA first team recorded their first win of the season in the Arngrove Northern League Second Division with a solid and well earned 1-0 win over Guisborough Town. RCA controlled most of the game, looking very solid at the back, but failed to convert chances until the 70th minute when a composed John Butler finished very calmly through a crowded penalty box. RCA then saw out the game comfortably enough although further chances to settle things were missed meaning the game stayed open to the end.

Northern League

Tuesday, 22 August 2006

It was a cracking match at Meadow Park last night when Sunderland RCA entertained Whickham FC in an ANL Division 2 match. A good advert for football at this level with some great football and solid goal scoring efforts belying the goalless score line. RCA started very strongly and could have notched on several occasions during the first half, with one save from Whickham custodian, Steve Robinson to tip a bottom corner bound effort by RCA centre forward Willie Crew being particularly noteworthy. RCA failed to make their first half dominance count and came under increasing second half pressure as Whickham pressed forwards with the advantage of the notorious Meadow Park slope. The RCA defence stood firm with Lee Charlton and Gary Anderson particularly prominent and saw RCA through to their second clean sheet in four days, good news after the goals shipped in the first two games. Good game!

Northern League

Saturday, 26 August 2006

Red Star shaded the first half, scored early, and preserved their lead through to the break. The second half was a different story with RCA showing pace and determination to constantly stretch the Seaham defence. Anthony Middleton and Anthony Laidler scored in a 10 minute spell in the middle of the half, and when Willie Crew converted an 82nd minute penalty which also saw a defender dismissed, RCA looked home and dry. But Seaham had other ideas, replied immediately through a penalty, and then pressed hard into extra time. A corner was conceded with literally seconds remaining and former RCA man Ian Watson headed home with the RCA defence static. Very disappointing, but a good game with lots of bright spots, including good combinations from our front two and the pace and willingness of our wide men.

Northern League

Monday, 28 August 2006

Going to South Shields to face a side on top of the league, and with a number of RCA players unavailable always felt like a tough ask. To find ourselves a minute or two from the half time whistle therefore with a 3-0 lead, featuring two tremendous Karl Jarvis strikes from range, was very pleasing indeed! Shields notched right on the break however, which seemed to give them the lift they needed going into the second half. The home team came out all guns blazing and soon leveled things with an unfortunate own goal and the second penalty against us of the weekend. RCA steadied the ship and had chances on the break but were undone right on time again as yet another penalty conceded saw the South Tynesiders collect all three points. So near and yet so far! Touching distance of two wins which would have made the league sit up and take notice. Six goals scored with only a one point return is a blow, but there was much to admire and build on in the approach play of the team.