skilltraining Northern League

Saturday, 1 November 2008

Another disappointing result for RCA in what must have been an interesting game for neutrals to watch. Heavy rain over night put the match in some doubt but, although it cut up quite a bit and players were slipping and sliding down by the grandstand, overall it allowed for a good game of football.

RCA started with Steve Jones making his debut at right back and Michael Ford making his league debut in midfield, and looking to make up for last week's major slip up at Darlington RA.

Crook were playing up the bank in the first half and started brightly with some good possession football before RCA got hold of the ball and with our first real attack Lee Owens saw a fierce shot pushed over by the keeper. The pattern of the first half was set, with Crook looking neat and tidy when they had the ball, and RCA having good chances with direct play. Michael Ford came close after nine minutes, Lee Owens hit a good shot wide after 14 and Ford again might have capitalised on a flick on in the box after 24 minutes. All the while Crook continued to probe carefully when in possession.

The Crook keeper had a lucky escape when he completely missed the ball as he rushed to the edge of his area and a defender hacked clear, and Andy Jennings had the ball taken at his feet by the keeper on the half hour. As the half wore on we began to think we might rue missed chances and on the 40th minute Crook took the lead with a tremendous strike from Michael Coad from the edge of the box.

HT 0 - 1.

The second half opened in a very competitive atmosphere and built up to be a real feisty exchange. There was good pressure from both sides and a lot of firm tackles and hefty exchanges in midfield. Hicker brought on Dean Goodwin and Gaz Shields for Sparky Davison and Michael Ford and the game really began to open up. The Crook keeper went walkabout again on the hour, and this time Lee Owens finished coolly to bring us level. Chances came from a flurry of corners, but within five minutes Crook were back in the lead as Mark Johnson seized on a cross to slide the ball home.

Young Chapman got into the game as sub for Adam McGuinness and looked sharp, and chances were made, but the equaliser wouldn't come and Crook played out time to take the points.

By no means a bad display by RCA, but things are definitely not running our way at present. Just got to keep playing!

skilltraining Northern League

Saturday, 8 November 2008

Don't infer from the score line that this was a close game. If RCA had not won it would have been a travesty, such was their domination, but as with previous matches the ratio of effort, possession chances to goals scored for RCA leaves everyone involved with the club thinking that the gods are not smiling on us.

RCA played a 3 - 5 - 2, with a back three of Steve Jones, Wayne Henderson and Andy Reay, Glenn Moan was sweeping in front of the back three, David Lee and Gary Shields were wing backs, Steve Halliday and Anth Laidler were in the middle and Andy Jennings and Mark Davidson led the front line. With Lee Owens beginning his three match suspension and injuries elsewhere in the squad, the bench was depleted, with assistant manager Glen McCartney joining Dean Goodwin, Michael Chapman and Michael Ford.

The game started with both sides testing each other out. On five minutes, David Lee took a free kick wide on the left level with the 18 yard line, which was cleared for a corner. On ten minutes a very good diagonal ball found the Washington number eight who cut in and shot only for Wayne Henderson to clear.

In midfield, manager Neil Hixon seemed to have got his selection and tactics right with Anth Laidler battling away, Glenn Moan looking assured and comfortable on the ball and captain Steve Halliday probing.

On 16 minutes a Glenn Moan shot from 20 yards was tipped over by the keeper for an RCA corner which he subsequently punched clear.

Five minutes later, RCA must have thought that their ill-fortune of previous weeks was continuing. Following a Washington free lick from their right, which was not cleared, the ball fell to the Washington number nine, who shaped to curl the ball into the the opposite corner: a shot he then executed perfectly. RCA will feel that they should have closed this opportunity down.

On 27 minutes Washington nearly scored a second when their forward was one on one with keeper Gary Hoggeth, who did well to kick clear.

The rest of the first half saw good periods of pressure from RCA. On 34 minutes, a shot from Steve Halliday rolled agonizingly wide. Overall, though, RCA needed more composure and movement in the box to make their pressure pay off.

Does anyone know what was in the RCA lads' half time drink? Because I want some! RCA attacked, attacked and then attacked again. Andy Jennings turned and shot, but just past the post. A Gary Shields free kick from near the corner flag was headed down for Andy Jennings to challenge the keeper. A Steve Halliday shot was turned away. Then Andy Jennings was in again, with his looping header coming back off the bar with the keeper nowhere.

On 59 minutes it seemed that the RCA pressure was going to finally pay off as Gary Shields stepped up to take a penalty. He drove the ball accurately to the left corner of the goal, but the keeper got down to push the ball round the post for a corner. The pressure ended with Andy Reay blasting over.

On 74 minutes, RCA's more than well deserved equalizer finally came. A free kick from the RCA left was gathered by Mark Davison, who hammered the ball home from 12 yards.

Nine minutes later Mark was on target again, this time following a cross from the right, which was skillfully headed on by Andy Jennings for Davison to head home from close range.

On 86 minutes a very good knock from Glenn Moan was headed goal ward by Andy Jennings and looked destined from the bottom left corner only for the washington keeper to save well.

On 89 minutes it seemed that skipper Steve Halliday, who had an excellent game, had done all the hard work only to shoot over.

Onwards and upwards!

skilltraining Northern League

Saturday, 15 November 2008

RCA began the match kicking up the slope and with the same formation - 3 - 5 - 2 - as the previous match against Washington. One change of personnel was forced on the management team, with Andy Jennings taking a place on the bench as he recovered from a nasty bug. Captain Steve Halliday moved up front to partner Mark Davison and Adam McGuinness came in for the position behind the front two.

One thing is very clear from this match: Brandon are not the rather sorry side of last season. This match finished 0 - 0, but it could have been 4 - 3 to either side and Brandon's young, fit, committed and slick passing players will perhaps count themselves the unluckiest as they missed a penalty and hit the woodwork twice.

Brandon shaded the early exchanges and 16 minutes had gone before Steve Halliday was nearly in against the Brandon keeper only for the combined efforts of two Brandon defenders, one of whom injured himself in the process, to clear the ball.

On 21 minutes it was RCA physio Darren Handy's turn to come on to the pitch as Glenn Moan required treatment. Brandon did not make the most of a series of free kicks which they won in midfield, but on 30 minutes one led to a corner, which RCA cleared. This was the occasion for more concerted RCA efforts. On 31 minutes, David Lee just kept the ball in to cross for mark davidson to fire a shot from 18 yards which the keeper covered. On 33 minutes Adam McGuinness kept the ball in play and passed it to Gary Shields whose first time cross was for a header by Mark Davison, which the keeper did well to save. Two minutes later though and it looked as though RCA would be going behind as the referee awarded a penalty to Brandon. The Brandon number 10, Paul Dixon, fired low and strongly to keeper Gary Hoggeth's right. Happily, Gary went the right way and made a good save, but the penalty taker will find fault with himself for putting it too close to the keeper.

On 43 minutes RCA forward Mark Davison was presented with another good heading opportunity when Gary Shields skillfully created space to fire in a cross from the right which Mark headed towards goal, but again the keeper was well-placed. At half time Andy Jennings replaced Adam McGuinness. Gary Shields continued his hard work down the right, but on 66 minutes it was a lucky escape for the home side as a Brandon cross shot came back off the post to be claimed by keeper Gary Hoggeth.

From the break, there was another text book Gary Shields right wing cross, which mark Davison headed just wide. Five minutes later and Brandon had the ball in the back of the RCA net, but were pulled up for off-side.

On 73 minutes Gary Shields' frustration continued as his cross came back off the Brandon bar. This was followed by three successive corners for RCA, but we could not make the pressure tell. Brandon dominated the last ten minutes of play and again had a shot come back off the post for the rebound to go wide. While RCA will continue to rue their goals to chances and effort ratio, credit should go to Brandon, whose youth policy, Dutch connection and tie up with Durham University seem to be paying dividends.

skilltraining Northern League

22 November 2008

Sunderland RCA gained a well-deserved win at the Glebe Ground against Whickham FC on the wintriest day of the season so far. RCA, with there now familiar 3 - 5 - 2 formation and wearing a third strip to avoid clashing with Whickham's stripes, kicked off facing the low sun and keeper Gary Hoggeth needed his peaked cap to see the approaching play.

On ten minutes good work from Andy Jennings from a throw in led to an RCA corner, which Gary Shields played short to captain Steve Halliday who played it back, but the cross was cleared. The RCA captain was back in action again two minutes later when a shot was tipped over by the keeper for another corner. There was consistent pressure from RCA.

On 15 minutes Andy Jennings, who was doing a lot of good defensive tracking back, drove powerfully, but wide. RCA won corners and fee kicks, but could not convert their dominance to clear cut chances. On 38 minutes great running led to a cross from right wing back Gary Shields which was headed clear for a corner, but David Lee hit it just too long. On 44 minutes a cross from Andy Jennings created a chance for fellow centre forward Mark Davison, who headed just wide.

Soon after the re-start RCA got a bit of a fright with Whickham through on goal and only a last ditch clearance averting real danger. After this, though, RCA dominated play, but again without creating clear cut chances until the hour when it seemed that the pressure must pay off with an Andy Jennings 'goal' ruled out for offside and a driving shot from David Lee tipped round the post for a fantastic save by the Whickham keeper. At this point manager Neil Hixon made a tactical switch, bringing on Adam McGuinness for Andy Jennings, which added new pace to the left side of the RCA attack. RCA scored minutes later. A Steve Jones cross from the left was headed back across goal for David Lee to break the deadlock.

On eighty minutes fresh legs were added to the central midfield battle with Michael Lawson coming on for skipper Steve Halliday. On 85 minutes good work from Mark Davison it seemed that RCA must score, but somehow Adam McGuinness's return ball was cleared. On 87 minutes the entire Whickham bench was on up on its feet claiming an equaliser when Gary Hoggeth gathered the ball on the line. Much shouting and abusing of the officials did them no good and the match ended with a well-deserved three points for the visitors.