Pre-season friendly

Saturday 14 July 2007

In their first friendly of the season Sunderland RCA travelled to North Yorkshire to face Bedale FC. Playing 4-4-2,

RCA started very brightly and at a great pace and had the home side under constant pressure from the off. Within five minutes of the start RCA were rewarded with a corner and from a great delivery by Robinson, Anderson soared above the home defence only for the keeper to produce a full length save. Butler reacted quickest and a shot on target was cleared off the line. Further pressure was applied and from a free kick on the left hand side of the box Robinson's curling effort hit the bar. RCA quickly retrieved the ball and some neat passing between Dixon and Jarvis played Matthews in down the left hand side. He went past two defenders before playing the ball to Butler who crossed to the far post, where the inrushing Middleton blazed over.

With the away side comfortably in charge they seemed too take their foot off the pedal and allowed Bedale some respite. RCA's passing now became long and scrappy and this resulted in attacks breaking down or shots being fired in from the ambitious 30-yard plus range. Bedale mounted a couple of attacks of their own as the half drew to a close, and Lawson was forced to pull off a full length tip over the bar, after Anderson and Massey were caught ball watching and their big centre forward latched onto the loose ball.

Half Time 0-0

With thee subs entering the fray, RCA seemed much more determined to get the ball down and press home their superiority. From the start of the half they were on top and Crew and Robinson were causing all sorts of problems for the home defence. The introduction of Hembrough on the right hand side was becoming a more and more influental factor as the extra injection of pace was overwhelming the home side.

It was no suprise the red and whites took the lead, a great through ball from Dixon was jumped on by Crew who beat the last defender, rounded the keeper and rolled the ballinto an empty net. With almost unanswered pressure RCA increased their lead when Robinson released Hembrough down the right hand side. He raced to the bye line, fired in a low cross, and Matthews, coming in from the left, hammered low and hard past a stranded home keeper.

Better was to come for the away side, now showing by far the better fitness levels as the best goal of the game was scored. Lawson rolled the ball to Peel at right back who, having dummied two forwards played the ball to Jarvis. He in turn sent it first time out wide to Hembrough who left the full back in his wake before again delivering a great ball for 18 year old debutant Richie Rowe to slot in from six yards. A great move covering the full length of the pitch in just four passes. From this point RCA remained comfortable, and keeping the passes short, easily played out the game for a good return to action and a clean sheet.

N Lawson, A Laidler (C Peel), M Lundy, GD Anderson, B.Massey (N Dodd), A Middleton (S Hembrough), K.Dixon, K.Jarvis, I Matthews, J.Butler (W Crew), P.Robinson (R Rowe)

Pre-season friendly

Tuesday, 24 July 2007

A very tough test for RCA indeed.

It was clearly evident that Durham were on their sixth competitive friendly and they did have a big array of non-league talent on show. In fact with a couple of dominant central defenders and a direct centre forward, Durham will go close this year. They can certainly pass the ball.

RCA certainly matched them for effort though and full credit for getting to half time 0 - 0. Could have even sneaked the lead just before the interval as well.

The second half was generally one way as match fitness showed and we got pushed deeper. No surprise when Durham took the lead and I dont think we will see a better strike at Meadow Park by Tom English (I think). A goal of massive quality.

The last fifteen minutes saw the RCA have some belief and we could have sneaked a consolation....late on!

Certainly some positives and this is going to be a tough fitness week with Nissan Thursday then Seaham Saturday.

Pre-season friendly

Saturday, 28 July 2007

Sunderland RCA entered the game with no fewer than 13 players missing due to holidays, work commitments and injuries. However there were massive plusses with Wayne Henderson playing his first game for over a year and Kev Dixon making his home debut.

The game started at a good pace and both sides showing a competitive edge. RCA started well and were looking lively, and played some neat and crisp football. After five minutes Butler won a great header, flicking into the path of Crew who released Middleton down the right, but with time and space he crossed straight into the keeper's hands. In their next attack Middleton was fouled, Jarvis swung in a great cross that Butler headed just wide of the far post.

On 10 minutes Seaham attacked, but Bell shot from some 40 yards and this rolled tamely through to Lawson. Seaham attacked down the left hand side on 15 minutes, Toft beat two defenders and rolled the ball to Lumsdon who fired high and wide.

The next 15 minutes saw Seaham forcing the pace and when RCA lost the ball through Henderson, Byrne raced clear, beating the offside trap only for Lawson to save well. Seaham then took advantage of some dreadful play from Hembrough, who gave the ball away, Bell crossed from the right, Lawson completely missed the cross and Toft picked out Jennings on the far post to head into empty net from three yards. RCA went straight on the attack and Butler released Crew, a low hard drive produced a great save from Finch, and as Jarvis followed up he unleashed a pile driver from 12 yards that was somehow brilliantly turned away by Finch.

Just before the half hour mark Seaham increased their lead, when a ball into the box was not dealt with. Anderson hacked weakly clear and Lumsdon fired into the bottom right hand corner. RCA again pushed forward and from a cross from Peel on the right hand side Butler fired wide.

On 37 minutes Seaham won a corner and again a misjudgement from Lawson saw the kick directly hit the back post and be cleared to safety by Anderson. On 42 minutes Laidler and Hembrough combined down the left hand side, some swift passing got Hembrough free in the box but Finch saved well, low to his left. From the resulting corner Anderson climbed above everyone only to see his header thunder onto the bar and behind to safety.

Half Time 0-2

The second half saw RCA change to a 3-5-2 formation with Henderson pushing up into the midfield. This brought a big improvement for the home side who started to really press. Two minutes in Henderson and Jarvis combined, only for the latter to fire wide from the edge of the box. On 52 minutes Dixon and Jarvis played some quick passes. Jarvis skipped past Goodwin but again shot wide.

On the hour RCA were finally rewarded for some good attacking play when Henderson played in Butler, who in turn rolled Maw inside the box only to be pulled down from behind. From the resulting penalty Crew fired low and hard into the bottom right hand corner sending Finch the wrong way.

On 65 minutes RCA levelled when Crew played Middleton in behind the Seaham defence, and as he headed towards goal he was clumsily brought down for another penalty. Crew again fired low and hard to the same corner, easily beating Finch.

On 65 minutes Goodwin flicked the ball forward for Seaham, Byrne collected and spun Anderson on the edge of the box, only to fire wildly over the top. RCA went on the attack again and a great ball out wide from Henderson released Butler, who skipped passed the defender and crosses cleverly for Crew to fire under Finch from six yards, giving him a hat trick and RCA a 3-2 lead.

In the 79th minute Dixon spread the play wide to the left, Butler evaded a challenge from Toft, and fired a great drive towards the far corner. With Finch well beaten the ball thudded off the far post and out for a goal kick. Seaham again lost the ball in the opposition half and with time and space to play RCA needlessly went backwards to Lawson. Unchallenged Lawson scuffed his attempted clearance straight to Jennings, he then squared to Byrne who rolled it into the empty net to level again at 3-3. With Seaham having made several changes and RCA's attacking efforts, the shortage of bodies was now starting to tell on the home side. As the game was drawing to a close Peel stumbled on the ball just outside the box, Newby picked up the loose ball and ran straight past a static home defence to slot past Lawson and give Seaham the lead. As the clock ticked down RCA produced the final attack of the game and when the ball was crossed in, Crew looked certain to score. But from two yards out and with the goal at his mercy, he somehow managed to fire wide.

Pre-season friendly

Tuesday, 31 July 2007

Sunderland RCA travelled to First Division Washington continuing their hard pre-season fixture schedule. Manager Steve Smith went with a 3-5-2 formation following on from their excellent second half performance against Seaham Red Star on Saturday.

The side saw a few changes in the line up with Paul Moss returning, Dave Hills playing as a trialist, Dean Goodwin making his debut and Flash starting up front after returning from injury. Also in the squad was defender Steve Williams, another defender playing on trial after being recommended by Kev Dixon. With Deano excellent throughout the 90 minutes, Dave calm and talkative at the back and Steve performing admirably after his introduction at half time, another great deal of plusses can be taken from the game.

Washington lined up with the prolific and vastly experienced pairing of John Milner and Willie Moat up front, but barring one or two half chances our back three performed really well. RCA attacked at every opportunity and had good chances with Butler and Hembrough in particular, but a free flowing and competitive game reached half time at 0-0.

In the second half RCA continued to get the ball down and play some swift and good football. Flash had a header well saved, then what looked a certain goal hacked off the line, but not to be stopped he fired in a great header on 75 mins after getting across the front of the defender to give the visitors a deserved lead. Play continued at a good pace, with both sides still looking to attack and Washington had a goal disallowed for offside when a shot from the edge of the box cannoned off the post to be headed in, only for the forward to be flagged offside. In the last ten minutes, Butler and Matthews went close for the visitors, and with the midfield on top they comfortably saw out the game to record a good victory.