Sunday, 22 August 2010
Sunderland Sunday League
Despite having 15 players unavailable (seven injured, five on holiday, two at work and one with a bad tummy) RCA somehow managed to cobble together 11 players for their tough opening day fixture against last year's league champions. The team included no fewer than two 16 year olds, a 17 year old and three or four under 19s, along with the 44 year old old stager and stalwart Paul Cooke - who by the way was outstanding, even if a little slower these days. He was never that fast anyway!
The first half saw a near full strength Hastings press from the kick off, but RCA held firm and restricted Hastings to long range efforts, whilst still trying to play passing football themselves. After RCA keeper Atkinson had made a couple of competent saves RCA had a great chance to open the scoring after 25 minutes when a quick free kick released Andy Place through the inside left channel, but his shot across the keeper just went past the far post. Hastings continued to have most possession and opened the scoring after 35 minutes when Clayton Davis curled an unstopable shot into the top right hand corner giving Atkinson no chance. RCA then had an identical chance to previously, this time Willie Crew being released, but again the cross shot just shaved the far post to give a half time score of 1-0 to Hastings.
The second half saw Hastings again having most possession and RCA's defence was being severely tested, but they stuck manfully to their task and were ably assisted by keeper Atkinson who was again having an outstanding match. RCA then, would you believe it, had another identical chance to the two in the first half, again with the same result, the ball just eluding the far post. By this time the tired legs were beginning to show. Hasting began to use their fresh subs and after 75 minutes a strong shot from the edge of the area by 'Sparky' Davison eluded the dive of Atkinson, who will be dissappointed with himself as he will think he should have done better, to give Hastings a 2-0 lead, which they could not add to, resulting in a full time score of 2-0 to Hastings.
RCA put up a sterling performance and great credit must be paid to all 11 players who gave their all to the cause and so we move on to the next game against Townend Farm WMC in the league cup at Downhill on Sun 29 August, hopefully with a much improved squad and a positive result.