Arngrove Northern League Division 2

Saturday, 01 September 2007

A dour struggle at the Old Reyrolles ground saw RCA come out on the wrong side of a single goal result against Hebburn Town, who will not expect to feature high in the league this season.

Hebburn took the lead half way through the first half and, despite a lot of pressure in the second period, RCA could not get back on level terms. Willie Crew had a goal disallowed for offside as the ball came back of the keeper, always a contentious decision, but when Karl Jarvis went off with what looked a bad shoulder injury the RCA effort faltered and Hebburn saw out the last 20 minutes quite comfortably.

Young Michael Robertshaw made an encouraging debut in goal and looked comfortable throughout, as well as making a couple of fine saves early on, while the return from injury of Mark Lawton was another bright spot on another disappointing day as the bad early season form continues for RCA.

Arngrove Northern League Division 2

Saturday, 08 September 2007

Stokesley is a lovely little town, the sports club is a great set up, with fans having the choice of football or cricket to watch on Saturday, plus England later on the clubhouse telly. That's where the positives end for Sunderland RCA, as our second ever visit ended the same way as the first, with a 5-2 beating.

Stand in boss Graham Defty went with five at the back, and recalled Kevin Dixon in place of the injured Karl Jarvis, and the first half hour was entertaining as RCA came close on a number of occasions and took the lead through a well worked Andy Allen goal, following good work after a corner by Anth Laidler and Kevin Dixon.

Dean Fox saw a great strike rubbed out a few minutes later for a marginal hand ball call, but that was the end of the good news as Stokesley hit back with three goals in eight minutes to take a 3-1 lead into the break.

Within 10 minutes of the restart the game was all over as sloppy defending let Stokesley in twice more to take a decisive 5-1 lead in the game. A couple of changes at the back saw things settle down, and a scrambled Willie Crew effort gave the scoreline a slightly better look, but it was still a miserable visit to North Yorkshire, as our bad start continues.

Ernest Armstrong Memorial Trophy

Tuesday, 11 September 2007

With new manager Neil Hixon watching from the stand before beginning his duties on the following morning, Sunderland RCA recorded their first win in any competition this year with a well deserved victory over Team Northumbria, as the playing staff took the opportuntiy to show their new boss that they had some qualities in the team for him to build on.

A solid performance saw goals from Anth Laidler before the break and Willie Crew half way through the second. Team Northumbria worked hard, but the RCA squad matched them and played some very good possession football at times. Hopefully the start of better things to come!

Arngrove Northern League Division 2

Saturday, 15 September 2007

What looked like a very tough start on paper for new boss Neil Hixon ended with RCA disappointed not to collect all three points from a good all round display.

The manager showed his intentions from the start, bringing in three new players for their debuts. Craig Sheilds and Graeme Brown, both signed from Nissan the day before came into goal and central defence respectively, while Luke Ball slotted in at right back after his move from Durham City.

A very even first half saw few chances, but RCA broke the deadlock immediately after the restart with a smart
Willie Crew finish, and when the recalled dveteran striker Simon Andrews notched a super second on the hour things looked good for RCA.

Thornaby were undaunted however and sloppy marking at the back post let them in for a quickfire brace within the next ten minutes.

The game continued to be entertaining with Thornaby pressing hard before Willie Crew had two golden opportunties to settle the match in the last few minutes, with a great Dean Gordon tackle defying him right at the end.

A first point of the season though, with hopefully many more to come!

FA Vase

Saturday, 22 September 2007

(The home side, Seaham Red Star, are in red and white stripes.)

Well, we knew the return to Seaham Town park would be interesting, as Neil Hixon made his first visit to Red Star only 10 days after stunning them by leaving the club to come to RCA. It was interesting all right, as the side Neil built were right up for the battle against his new charges. Sadly the same could not be said for the Sunderland RCA team. We conceded the first goal early, as Seaham's giant centre forward, Andy Jennings, looked like he didn't believe the space he had found in the six yard box; neither did any of the spectators.

Always second best, the RCA lads kept it down to two goals at the interval, but afterwards the floodgates opened and within 10 minutes of the restart Red Star had stretched their lead to five. It got worse, and with the local fans and officials more or less quietly jubilant, Seaham notched two more. Jennings, who we found unplayable throughout, got his hat trick, and by the end RCA were a thoroughly beaten outfit, and out of another national cup competition, only the All England Sunday Cup still to go... Its not all bad news though, I managed to puncture the excitement a little by pointing out that we would be a good deal more worried if we had won 7 - 0 against a team put together by our new boss! 

Just a short comment on quotes you may have seen from Seaham Red Star suggesting we were less than honourable in our approach to Neil Hixon. This is simply not true. I personally rang John Smith the Seaham secretary to tell him we were going to try and talk to Neil, and as far as I am concerned that was all I needed, although was not required, to do. It is not my job to interfere in internal relations at another club, or to tell them if someone has decided to leave and come to us. I don't know what was or wasn't said between Neil and Seaham Red Star, and I don't want to know, that is their business. We are just pleased he is now on board with us at Meadow Park.

Mind, they got their own back. Against all the normal conventions and courtesies, and in order to make my match notes, I had to buy my programme at the game last Saturday, there was none available for this particular visiting secretary. Ah well, whatever floats your boat...

Durham County Challenge Cup

Tuesday, 26 September 2007

On the first really cold night of the autumn, Sunderland RCA were hot stuff - certainly too hot for ANL First Division outfit, Shildon. The 3 - 2 victory was well deserved and went a long way in restoring club pride after the defeat at neighbours Seaham Red Star.

In a frantic first ten minutes, RCA, kicking up the slope, got a free kick on the right, which was cleared for Shildon to break away and from a cross hit the side netting. On 10 minutes, following good work in midfield, veteran Si Andrews was put clear in the Shildon penalty area and scored to make it one - nil to the lads. The goal stung Shildon, who gained three corners in a row, the third one cleared twice by Gary D Anderson, who was playing an unfamiliar role in midfield. A minute later Niki Lawson ran out bravely to deflect the ball from an on-rushing Shildon forward. On 22 minutes Gary Anderson was back in action, clearing the ball off the RCA goal line.

On 33 minutes, Shildon equalised. From a corner the ball pinged around the RCA penalty area eventually falling to John Hutton on the 18 yard line, who made no mistake firing strongly through a crowd of players. Three minutes later Shildon had the ball in the net again, but the whistle had gone for off-side.

In the second half, Craig Shields took over in the RCA goal. Manager Neil Hixon was soon forced to make more changes. Luke Ball was booked for what looked like a fair 50:50 tackle and went off for treatment. The injury proved too severe for Luke to continue and John Butler, who has been recovering from an injury over the past few weeks, was thrown into the fray.

Shildon were showing determination to get themselves ahead. On 55 minutes, Craig Shields dived to push a shot around the post for a corner. On the 60th minute Shildon got their breakthrough. A long shot was deflected for a Shildon corner. The ball was cleared, but pushed back into the RCA penalty area where it broke to Karl Everitt on the 18 yard line. His well hit cross shot found the net to put Shildon ahead.

Seven minutes later RCA were back on level terms. Under-18 player and ANL debutant, Nathan Johnson, went through one-on-one with the Shildon keeper. There was an audible clash between them, but it did not stop Nathan heading the ball into the net to make it 2 - 2. Well done Nathan, with an attitude like that you will go far in the game - let's hope it's with us. Chairman Owen Haley, who devotes a lot of time to the Under-18s, was delighted and it is certainly an inspiration to the other young lads at RCA.

RCA went ahead on 75 minutes. Intelligent and quick thinking from captain Glen McCartney meant that an RCA free kick from 25 yards was taken early and with the Shildon keeper asleep the ball was in the back of the net. Terrific!

Shildon did not give up. The next minute they brought an excellent reaction save from keeper Craig Shields and RCA more than hung on for a deserved victory.

Well done to all the lads. We needed that. It's a funny old game!

Arngrove Northern League Division 2

Saturday, 29 September 2007

Two wins on the trot are very welcome to RCA supporters and will have raised eyebrows elsewhere as we trebled our league points tally against a tough Marske side, who were eighth in the league, with no away losses, going into this match. Things are changing at Meadow Park as new manager Neil Hixon's early work takes effect. There's more heart, more belief and more ability on show. RCA can go into the next two home ANL encounters with Prudhoe (Saturday) and Guisborough (Tuesday week) with a positive frame of mind.

RCA began the match kicking up the slope. Marske were first to show, heading over the bar from a right wing cross after two minutes. In the next minute RCA had a corner, but this was cleared. On five minutes there was a long stoppage as a Marske player was knocked out when competing for a header in midfield. When play was resumed, Wayne Henderson made a good and crucial tackle as a Marske forward ran clear on goal. Six minutes later, Wayne was in action again, managing to disturb a Marske forward who was clear through on goal, weakening the shot that was comfortably saved by keeper Craig Shields.

Marske were having success down their left wing and on 17 minutes shot just past the far post. RCA were also threatening. Lee Owens collected a good diagonal ball, but his shot was straight at the keeper.

On 26 minutes Marske got the goal that their play had been threatening. Again the problem was on the RCA left side of defence, with a Marske forward having far too much freedom to run through to slot past Craig Shields.

Two minutes later it looked like it was not going to be RCA's day as Wayne Henderson conceded a penalty, but the shot was way wide past the right post.

RCA were getting some joy down their right, with good work from new signing Lee Owens. Unfortunately his cross on 37 minutes was just over hit. On 41 minutes Si Andrews challenged the keeper on his line and inevitably the referee blew in favour of the keeper.

Marske will have been frustrated that there lead was only 1 - 0 at half time, although any neutral would not have felt much sympathy for their constantly mythering fans, who were giving the match officials a ridiculous level of abuse.

Manager Neil Hixon made some key changes for the for the second half bringing on Gary D Anderson and Paul Moss to tighten up the right side of the defence. Both players did very well and the changes had the desired effect, as would the introduction of new signing Lee Bell on to the right wing.

On 48 minutes Gary Shields won a penalty, which he then took to score and put RCA on level terms. Ten minutes later though Marske were ahead again scoring from their second penalty.

RCA were back in the match on 59 minutes. A terrific ball from the ever-improving Kevin Dixon put Gary Shields in good space on the right of the Marske penalty area. His cross was half-stopped by the keeper, but Si Andrews was on hand to bundle the ball into the net.

On 75 minutes RCA went ahead for the first time in the match. Tricky footwork from new boy Lee Bell was too much for the Marske defenders and he slotted home to make it 3 - 2. Three minutes later a good ball from Dean Goodwin set up Lee on the right, but all missed his tantalising cross.

There was more woe for Marske on 82 minutes as David Onions was stretchered off. Let's hope he's OK.

On 82 minutes another good ball from Kevin Dixon to Lee Bell was crossed, but Si Andrews did not connect effectively enough with his header and the keeper pushed around the post.

A good win and with a friendly against the Bishops arranged for Wednesday night Neil Hixon will have more opportunity to assess his squad.