Friendly

Wednesday, 4 October 2007

This quickly arranged friendly suited both clubs. For RCA it was the opportunity for manager Neil Hixon to get more of a look at his squad and to introduce the new left winger Ashley Davis, who has signed for RCA from Jarrow Roofing. The Bishops have a new management team and Brian Honour and Assistant Player Manager Steve Howey were equally keen to assess their team.

The Bishops started brightly, but as RCA settled in to the match new signing Ashley Davis was showing some good touches and threatening positions on the left in an RCA side that started with Anth Laidler taking a central midfield role, Gary Anderson on the right and Paul Moss and Gary D Anderson in central defence.

Matthew Raine continued his solid start with RCA at left back, but unfortunately was injured in the 35th minute and had to leave the field. The substitute's first action was to concede a penalty. Niki Lawson brought off a good save diving to his right to palm the shot away and the danger was eventually cleared.

In the second half Si Andrews came on for Dean Fox to partner new signing Lee Bell in attack. Midfielder Kevin Dixon also entered the fray alongside Karl Jarvis who was making his comeback after a lengthy shoulder injury.

The Bishops created a good chance in the 60th minute when a right wing cross was volleyed across goal and wide. It was RCA who made the breakthrough, though, courtesy of its new boys. Ashley Davis carried the ball forward and passed to live wire Lee Bell in the penalty area. Lee controlled the ball well and shot past the Bishop's keeper.

This was a good workout and will encourage the players for the next completive action - a clean sheet as well!

Arngrove Northern League Division 2

Saturday, 06 October 2007

What a disappointment. An opportunity to avenge our defeat in August, and we created more than enough chances to do so, but found it hard to score in the face of some solid defending, good goalkeeping, and a few slack efforts.

Prudhoe opened the scoring in the 10th minute, and within another 60 seconds their keeper managed to block a Gary Shields effort from close range when he looked certain to score. We had the better of the rest of the first period, and some good chances but went into the break still a goal down, confident we could turn it round in the second half.

No doubt Neil and George told the boys at half time the importance of starting the second half wide awake, but a few weren't listening, as within two minutes Prudhoe players were allowed to turn on the ball and stroll through retreating defenders before coolly finishing to double their advantage. What a shocker.

Neil made all three changes before the mid point of the half, and Jif Dickinson came on and got his first ever goal for the club with a well taken effort after a confident run into the box but, despite several more openings, the equaliser just wouldn't come.

Paul Moss came up from the back and could have scored twice, with a solid header from a corner and a turn and shot in the area, and sub Willie Crew also went close, but with seconds remaining a corner on the right looked like being our last chance. Keeper Craig Shields came up to add his height to our effort, and as sometimes happens, Prudhoe took advantage to break away and notch with the last kick of the match. Not our day!

Arngrove Northern League Division 2

Tuesday, 09 October 2007

A great result for Sunderland RCA to celebrate the launch of their new partnership with GENTOO. A good crowd, including a good contingent from GENTOO, had turned out in pretty awful weather, but the omens before the game were realistically not good. A team being rebuilt week by week, a poor result against Prudhoe, and now a game against a side who had won seven and drawn one of their eight League games to date. This had some fearing a very tough night.

How wrong can you be? Left back Mathew Raine started things rolling for RCA after only seven minutes, when he rocketed a 25 yard shot through the keeper's hands as he latched onto a ball knocked out of the area from a corner. This was something special for the lad's first goal for the club! Goals from Ash Davis with a neat header, and Lee Owens with a far post finish, both again with their first goals for the club, saw RCA into a comfortable 3-0 lead inside the first half hour. However, debutant Matt Hyson, signed the day previously from Spennymoor Town, and who had looked very solid at the back alongside evergreen, play anywhere, stalwart Simon Andrews, was then sent off for a second bookable offence a minute before the break, to leave RCA facing 45 minutes with 10 men.

Guisborough produced the expected barrage at the start of the second period, but found goal keeper Craig Shileds in tremendous form, pulling off three top class saves. It was not all one-way traffic, as Gary Shields, James Dickinson and Lee Owens showed great pace on the break to keep the Guisborough defence on their toes, ably prompted by the returning Karl Jarvis in midfield. Perhaps they took the caution too far, as Gary, playing as a lone striker, often found himself with three or even four defenders for company.

An unfortunate mistake by Si Andrews gave the Teessiders a little hope, but within five minutes Si put things right himself, with a great turn and shot in the box to restore the three goal margin. RCA played out time without further alarms, and could have scored again as they burst forward against a visibly deflated Guisborough team.

Arngrove Northern League Division 2

Saturday, 13 October 2007

A bit of a smash and grab! The game started at a good pace, and the first half was very evenly contested. Gary Shields gave us the lead after 10 minutes with a well struck goal following a quality passing move.

Esh Winning were always dangerous, playing patient possession football, but lacking a real cutting edge. After 25 minutes Jif Dickinson hit the bar with a diving header when he probably should have scored, and RCA went into the break with the single goal lead, reasonably happy with the performance, and with little inkling of the second half to come.

Jif was hurt late in the first half, taking a blow in the ribs, so Willie Crew replaced him for the second period.

Esh Winning came at us in waves from the restart. There must have been five corners in the first five minutes. Constant pressure, but thankfully not many real chances created.

On the hour a super move on the break saw Lee Bell finish coolly and if Willie had scored from a great chance after another quality move a few minutes later it might have been a different story. As it was the pressure from Esh intensified again, they got one back after 70 minutes and then it was all hands to the pump for the last 20. Craig Shields pulled off a couple of great saves, there were crosses and half chances galore, but we held on to take all three points. Phew!

Durham County Challenge Cup

Wednesday, 17 October 2007

Nothing much to say: a top First Division side who gave us a comprehensive lesson. 2-0 at half time; and then the pace of the Consett front men was too much for us as they went nap in the second half.

Hicka treated the game as a good training session, and at least we now how far we have to go, if we do manage to get promoted one of these days!

Arngrove Northern League Division 2

Saturday, 20 October 2007

A tough old game. RCA had most of the play from start to finish, but Penrith looked dangerous on the break throughout.

Scott Richards and Scott Thompson came in for their debuts and both fitted in well, with Richards prompting from midfield and Thompson holding the ball up well from the front, although he took a knock and had to leave the field after an hour to be replaced by Willie Crew.

Overall, we looked a little short of pace with some of our quick players missing, and to be fair, until late in the second half the goalkeepers were largely spectators, and a single goal as always likely to be enough.

The game turned on an incident in the 75th minute when Matty Hyson could only lift a header into the roof of the net as he tried to clear for a corner. The goal lifted Penrith and Craig Shields had to make a couple of smart saves in the next few minutes, but RCA went for broke in the last ten and camped out in the Penrith area. A goal mouth scramble might have seen the ball into the net, but in the end Penrith held on and ran out narrow winners. The Cumbrians are always competitive and we were by no means second best, so let's hope it is just a temporary set back as we look to continue our improvement of recent weeks.

Arngrove Northern League Division 2

Wednesday, 24 October 2007

Brandon scored in the first minute as their player turned on a short corner and flighted the ball past a stationary Craig Shields in our goal, and for a minute or two we looked rattled.

But the team soon settled, and were 2-1 up by the break, before easing clear in the second half with three more goals, including a marvellous volley from Jif Dickinson and an equally superb chip from all of 40 yards from Dean Goodwin, one of a brace for the midfielder.

Brandon never gave up, always tried to play football and were a credit to their club. For us it was a solid display, and a welcome improvement to our goal tally.

Arngrove Northern League Division 2

Saturday, 27 October 2007

Any trip down to Teesside and returning home with the points is always satisfying, and this was particularly so.

A couple of players missing meant an emergency role up front for Matt Hyson which he carried out well.

The game started with Norton having most of the possession without threatening too much, before a quick break and good passing led to a well taken goal for Gary Shields after eight minutes.

The pattern was set for the game and did not alter much throughout. Norton huffed and puffed while only looking like scoring on a couple of occasions, while we defended well and looked very dangerous on the break, with the pace of Shields and Lee Owens always a threat.

No more goals, job well done, and back up the A19!

League Cup

Wednesday, 31 October 2007

Neil Hixon reshuffled the pack again for the league cup tie vistit of league leaders Birtley, Jon Innis making his debut as goalkeeper. After being informed that Birtley had not lost an away game in league or cup this season, the Chairman was wondering if the opposition management had deliberately conceded home advantage! Very few spectators at 7.25 PM, but a late surge of visiting supporters, decked out with hats and scarves gave the atmosphere a real boost at kick-off time.

A very tight game with both defences very well organised and space was at a premium all over the pitch. Very keenly contested with SRCA shading possession with main threat coming from deep runs from Lee Owens and Ash Davis. A lot of great crosses were flying into the Birtley box but unfortunately no RCA forwards getting on the end! Attacking with the slight wind and slope advantage, SRCA were regretting not scoring first half - 0-0 at half time.

Second half Birtley upped the pace a little realising SRCA were going to be tough opposition to overcome and a couple of long range efforts were well saved by the home keeper Innis who was certainly enjoying his debut. Game was still finely in the balance. At 80 mins the visiting Secretary approached the Chairman to confirm that the tie had to be settled tonight - extra time and pens looked on the cards. The Chairman retort was that if it were to be a replay would Birtley want to play at Meadow Park again; this brought a wry smile from all the visiting committee party!

On 82mins the controversial decision by the Referee. A Birtley midfielder hit a free kick just inside the SRCA half straight at head height towards SRCA midfielder Laidler. Unable to get out of the way and covering his face the ball hits his defensive hand. Very harsh indeed ...then unbelievably he was also booked. This meant a second free kick approx 25 yards from goal. Hepple then stepped up to drill home a superb free kick. Ouch!

The home Manager brought Gary Shields on for the last 10 minutes as we piled forward in search of the equaliser, alas it was not to be.

Only one more Cup left to go for this season; hopefully we are due a change of luck!