14 July 2010
Pre-season friendly
Click here for a slideshow of photos from the match
The team sheet showed pleasing continuity from last season, but also included a number of faces who are returning to the club, as well as new signings Harrison Davies and Rob McLean.
RCA created good movement and cohesion, in the first half in particular. This is promising for the new campaign. With more firendlies coming up there should be ample opportunity for players to improve and prove their fitness and to stake their claim for a starting place for the first competitive match: home to new boys Gillford Park on Saturday, 8 August.
The team sheet:
Starting 11
Gary Hoggeth, Steve Jones, Paul Wardle, Dave Anderson, Adam McGuinness, Steven Stewart, Michael Coghlan, Mark McLeod, Harrison Davies, Gary Sheilds, Paul Taylor
Came on during match
Chris Curtis, Lee Andrews, Adam Forrest, Rob McLean (GK), wayne Henderson, Andy Reay, Scott Richards, Chris Lumsden, Anth Laidler, Lee Smith
Sunderland RCA outshine Dunston in Pre-Season Match
Pre-season friendly
23 July 2009
Sunderland RCA travelled to Northern League Div I Dunston UTS for their second pre season friendly and came away with an emphatic 3 - 1 win. On a lovely summer evening the crowd were entertained by some good football by both teams but it was RCA who took the spoils.
Click here for a slideshow of photos from the match
A cagey opening spell by both teams suddenly burst into life when a screamer of a shot from Dunston full back Taylor was brilliantly saved by Hoggeth after 10 minutes. This spurred RCA into action and a jinxy run from Stewart ended in him crossing for Davison to beat Connell to make it 1-0. It could have been 2 -0 moments later when the same two players combined but this time Davison headed wide.
Dunston's only reply was a cross cum shot from Sheeran which was easily dealt with by Hoggeth.
RCA were easily the better team and defensively gave little away, even when temporarily down to ten men when trialist Noble was receiving treatment for a nose bleed.
Taylor shot wide after some good work by Halliday had set him up and Davison, who was causing major problems for the Dunston defence, was again unlucky shooting narrowly wide.
It was not unexpected when RCA increased their lead on the half hour with a slick passing movement started by McGuinness and ending with a low shot from Stewart which left the keeper stranded.
RCA had further chances to wrap the game up with Stewart firing wide, Davison having a 25 yard shot well saved by Connell and Taylor missing the target when clean through.
Dunston came back strong in the final minutes of the half and Preen wouild have scored but for a reaction save from Hoggett sending the ball round the post for a corner. The ball was then cleared off the line by Noble from a Sheeran header and RCA were able to clear.
The Managers of both teams made changes at half time to give everyone a chance but, unlike the Shields game when RCA fell away after the break, this time the momentum was maintained.
Dunston did start the better in the second half and it was only some stout defending by Wardle and Reay that denied Bulford on three seperate occassion in the first 5 minutes.
Having whethered the storm RCA reverted to the passing game that they had used to great effect in the first half and Stewart, now operating on the right wing, crossed for Davison but his flick on was well saved.
McLean was brought into action, having to punch clear from a corner with Collins threatening at the near post.
An injury to Coghlan meant a reshuffle in defence and this gave Dunston a slight lift and they got on top for the first time in the match. However, RCA managed to hang on until the 85th minute when during a goalmouth scamble Laws blasted the ball home. RCA's response was emphatic Stewart burst forward, beat two player before sending his shot narrowly wide.
Two minutes later a supurb crossfield ball from McGuinness found Stewart on the right wing, again he cut inside and this time found the bottom corner to finish the scoring.
A resounding victory and an all round excellent team performance which proves that there is strength in depth in the team.
25 July 2009
Pre season friendly
RCA Blast 7 past Bedale
The team travelled to Bedale FC in North Yorkshire for the 3rd of their pre season friendlies.
The game started in glorious sunshine with both teams playing open attacking football.
Taylor had RCA's first chance after 10 minutes when he was sent clean through by Coghlan but he fired narrowly wide.
Bedale's Parkinson was causing problems down the right and had an effort on goal which was easily saved by McLean.
Taylor squandered two further one on one chances sending the ball high and wide on both occassions. However the general play was promising and we were creating a lot of chances, especially from the left wing where Davies was getting a lot of the ball. Bedale persisted with their policy of counter attacking football and were a constant threat.
However it was against the run of play when they scored from freekick. Parry floated the ball into the box and Turner headed the ball into his own goal.
Within minutes RCA had two more chances firstly Davies crossed but nobody could get on the end of it and then Davison burst into the box and fired wide.
With 2 minutes remaining to half time Anderson was dispossessed on the edge of his own box and Parkinson cleverly chipped the ball over McLean's head into the net.
The second half opened with RCA attacking from the off and it was no surprise to see Taylor score after 47 minutes volleying in a headed pass from Davison.
Bedale defended well and denied RCA with some good tackling and blocks but it looked like it was only a matter of time before the equaliser came. On the hour mark, after a succession of corners, Davison rose unmarked at the back post and powered in a header past the helpless Heugh. This opened the floodgates and 2 minutes later Coghlan fired in a shot from 35yards which Heugh could only parry into the goal.
The manager introduced Wardle up front after 75 minutes and he tapped in from close range with his first touch of the match. Minutes later and Curtis had made it 5-2 within a minute Jones burst into the box and fired home to make it 6 and the final nail in the coffin was administed with 5 minutes remaining when Wardle scored his second.
28 July 2009
Pre season friendly
Sunderland RCA continued their pre season build up with a good competitive friendly at Tow Law.
A good move in first minute saw Mark Davison give RCA the lead. Matty Moffet equalised for Tow Law on four minutes.
On 20 minutes a clever Mick Coghlan free kick saw Harrison Davies slide past the keeper.
HT 1 - 2
On 55 minutes RCA centre half Wayne Henderson headed home from a corner to make it 3 - 1 to RCA. And on 68 minutes Wayne got his second in identical fashion to make it 4 - 1 to RCA. But three minutes later Andrew Thompson scored with a top class free kick from 25 yards, which gave Gary Hoggeth no chance. 4 - 2. A deflected Moffet effort brought Tow Law back to 4 - 3 on 75 minutes and made it for a hectic last 15, but RCA held on well.
30 July 2009
Pre Season Friendly
Sunderland RCA continued their impressive pre season with a workmanlike 3 - 0 win against Wearside league Silksworth FC. However, the real winner on the night was Cancer Research, the charity that the night was all about.
The match itself was very competative with Silksworth proving that they are not to far away from being a very good team. In the first 20 minutes, they matched RCA and had one effort which hit the crossbar.
In the 22 minute Taylor burst into the box and was fouled by the keeper. The penalty was sucessfully converted by Davison.
Silksworth responded with two good opportunities and were unlucky not to equalise when a long throw in from N Jones found Thopmpson inside the box but he fired wide.
RCA went two up when a long ball from Mcleod found Turner on the edge of the box and he deftly lobbed the advancing keeper.
ther second half was as competative as the first with both teams playing some good football but RCA proved that they were stronger and fitter than the Wearside league team and the final goal came through a piece of sheer brilliance. Coghlan picked the ball up in Midfield and threaded a ball through 5 defenders into the path of Davies who dummied the keeper before curling the ball into the net.
With 5 minutes remaining Coghlan showed another piece of skill which will be remembered for years to come by everyone who was there. he brought down a high kick from the keeper with his right foot, kept the ball up with alternative feet six times before despatching an inch perfect, 30 yard pass, to Davies on the left wing, the subsequent header from Davison went narrowly wide.
This match was a good work out for both teams and we wish Steve Smith and his team every success in the coming season.