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Sunderland Ryhope CW 1 Sunderland RCA 2

Submitted by Rob Jones on Wednesday, 14 August 2019
Tuesday, 13 August 2019 - 7:30pm
The Emirates FA Cup
Stephen Callen celebrates after scoring RCA's winning goal.

Stephen Callen celebrates after scoring RCA's winning goal.

Please click here for more photos from the match.

After the emotionally charged match on Saturday there was a different feel about the replay as both teams realised that there had to be a result here tonight, bragging rights apart there was the matter of progressing in the FA Cup competition. RCA’s management team made one change to the line up with Mark Davison returning to replace Michael Charlton, they also made a change to their formation.

The opening minutes of the game were very tentative as both teams tried to settle into there respective game plans. The visitors were the first to have a chance as Callen latched onto a ball from Hodgson, dribbled past two defenders before   stabbing the ball towards goal where Winter managed to get a hand to it and the ball was eventually scrambled clear for a corner. Davison headed the resulting corner wide of the post. The Welfare responded quickly and a ball from Trewick was picked up by Rae who sent in a low drive which brought a good save from Dean in the RCA goal.

Sunderland RCA 0 Ryhope CW 0

Submitted by Rob Jones on Sunday, 11 August 2019
Saturday, 10 August 2019 - 3:00pm
The Emirates FA Cup
Nathan O'Neill

Nathan O'Neill and Karl Jones contest the ball.

Please click here for more photos from the match.

On an emotional day at Sunderland LGV Park football was always going to take second place as both teams and sets of supporters paid their respects to former player Richie Jordan. The teams mixed together and with the management teams, stood side by side respectfully observing a minute’s silence in his memory.

The RCA management team made three changes to the side that won as Guisborough in mid-week with Clayton Davis, Stephen Callen and Nathan O’Neill replacing Dominic Moan, Kyle Davis and Mark Davison.

Guisborough Town 1 Sunderland RCA 2

Submitted by Rob Jones on Thursday, 8 August 2019
Wednesday, 7 August 2019 - 7:45pm
Northern League 1


RCA’s first away trip of the season took them to Guisborough Town and for once the traffic was light and everyone arrived pretty much on time.

The management team made two changes to the side that won on Saturday with Dylan Elliott and Mark Davison starting in place of Thomas McAloon and Stephen Callen.

Teams: Guisborough Town: Catterick, Marron, McAvoy, Hawkins, Marshall, Rowbotham (C), Howard, Snaith, Earl, Coleman, Ferguson.  Subs: Graham, Holdsworth, McNeill, Taylor, Robinson.

SRCA: Dean, Allen, McNab, Preston, Swansbury (C), Hodgson, Davis, Moan, Davison, Elliott, Charlton. Subs: McAloon, O’Neill, Dorward, Green, Whitehead.

Sunderland RCA 2 North Shields 1

Submitted by Rob Jones on Sunday, 4 August 2019
Saturday, 3 August 2019 - 3:00pm
Northern League 1


RCA started their 2019 – 20 campaign with a win against a strong North Shields team who made it difficult for the home team to get into their normal passing game.

Two second half goals from substitute Elliott in the space of 10 minutes sealed the victory.

The home team gave a debut to Max Allen in place of the injured Clayton Davis who failed a late fitness test. Robbie Dean was also making his debut in goal. Three other pre-season signings were added to the bench, Lewis Green, Kyran Whitehead and Henry Dorward (who came on as a 78th minute substitute to make his debut for the club.)

Teams: SRCA: Dean, Allen, McNab, Preston, Swansbury, Hodgson, Charlton, Moan, Callen, Davis, McAloon. Subs: Davison, Elliott, Green, Whitehead, Dorward.

North Shields: Purvis, Christensen, McDonald, New, Williams, Buchanan, Patton, Forster, Campbell, Carr, Robinson. Subs: Cunningham, Bainbridge, Cassidy, Van-Zandvliet, Jaques.

Sunderland RCA 4 Wolviston 0

Submitted by Rob Jones on Wednesday, 31 July 2019
Tuesday, 30 July 2019 - 7:30pm
Friendly
Thomas McAloon

Thomas McAloon fends off the Wolviston tackler, with Michael Charlton on hand, in Tuesday night's 4-0 friendly win. Photograph: Simon Mears. More photos from the match are here.

Sunderland RCA: Robbie Dean; Clayton Davis, Ross McNab, Ross Preston, Greg Swansbury, Craig Hodgson, Michael Charlton, Dominic Moan, Steve Callen, Kyle Davis, Thomas McAloon;. Subs Lewis Green, Aaron Croft, Kylan Whitehead.

After the cancellation of the match against Barnoldwick Town on Saturday we welcomed Wolviston FC to Sunderland LGV Park for this hastily arranged pre-season friendly. The threatened rain kept away and the match kicked off on a lovely summers evening.

RCA got off to a dream start when Callen latched onto a perfect through ball, side stepped a challenge and smashed the ball into the bottom corner of the net to put the hosts 1 -0 up inside three minutes.

Wolviston tried to respond to this early setback but RCA relaxed into their passing game and the visitors found it difficult to retain possession for any period of time.

Heaton Stannington 3 Sunderland RCA 3

Submitted by Colin Wilson on Thursday, 25 July 2019
Wednesday, 24 July 2019 - 7:30pm
Friendly


Sunderland RCA: Robbie Dean; Ross McNab, Sam Lilley, Craig Hodgson, Clayton Davis; Michael Charlton, Triallist, Dom Moan, Thomas McAloon; Steve Callen, Kyle Davis. Subs Shaun Green, Triallist, Triallist

A lovely summer evening at Heaton Stannington, with the pitch looking superb and the bar selling real ale, what could be better? A good set up at Heaton Stan, and the team have performed consistently well in the second division in the last couple of years, so a good game and a good test expected. RCA were missing a few key bodies for various reasons, and the team sheet featured three triallists, one starting in midfield and two on the bench.

The game got off to a lively start and at a good pace, which to be fair, was maintained pretty much throughout. Both teams probed and had one or two openings before RCA took the lead with a super Steve Callen volley, as he maintained the good form he has shown in pre-season after his long lay off. A cracking goal. Heaton Stan were not downhearted though and continued to give as good as they got. They found a way back into the game with a penalty on 32 minutes when an RCA defender brought down a forward just after he had released a wild shot past the post. Robbie Dean got a good hand to the penalty, but couldn’t quite stop it looping into the net. All square and it remained that way up to the break, with the decent crowd enjoying the action. HT 1-1.

Brandon 0 Sunderland RCA 2

Submitted by Colin Wilson on Tuesday, 23 July 2019
Saturday, 20 July 2019 - 3:00pm
Friendly


RCA starting line up: Dean; C. Davis, Hodgson, Lilley, McNab; Charlton, Elliott, Moan, McAloon, Davison, K. Davis

RCA made the trip out to Durham to face Brandon in our latest pre-season friendly. Many thanks to Brandon for their hospitality, and good luck for the coming season. 

Brandon looked to have a young and lively team who should have a successful season in the Northern League Second Division, we wish them well.

RCA were short of a few regulars for today’s game, which meant a starting opportunity for others and a chance to stake their claim.

RCA started very brightly and might well have been a couple ahead in the first ten minutes, with McAloon and Davison having decent chances. The game was being played at a lively pace with Brandon looking good on the break, a theme which was to become more evident as the game wore on. RCA were trying to control the ball, and Dylan Elliott and Dom Moan showed up with some good control in the centre of the park, with Dylan also successfully spraying longer passes cross field on a number of occasions. At the back Rob Dean looked a very safe pair of hands when called into action, was quick off his line, and also used the ball well from hand and foot. The unfamiliar back four unit gelled well, although Sam Lilley unfortunately had to go off after only fifteen minutes to be replaced by youngster Green, and we looked comfortable in defence with the full backs, particularly Clayton Davis, also getting forward at pace whenever the chance presented. It was a good competitive first half with both sides having their chances, but at the break it was goalless.

Sunderland RCA 1 Sunderland AFC U18s 2

Submitted by Rob Jones on Monday, 15 July 2019
Saturday, 13 July 2019 - 3:00pm
Friendly


Paul Bryson brought his youngsters to "Sunderland LGV Park" for this, RCA's third friendly of the season.

Martin Swales named a strong RCA team.

The game started with RCA attacking up the slope.

In the early stages of the game Swansbury was injured in a tackle and had to leave the field to be replaced by Lewis Green.

An even first half saw only a handful of half chances by both teams with neither keeper being seriously tested. The Under 18s broke the deadlock on the stroke of half time when a long ball out of defence found Gooch on the right, his cross was only partially cleared to Kiernan who fired into the roof of the net.

Billingham Synthonia 0 Sunderland RCA 2

Submitted by Rob Jones on Thursday, 11 July 2019
Wednesday, 10 July 2019 - 7:30pm
Friendly


RCA continued their pre-season warm up with a friendly against Billingham Synthonia from the EBAC Northern League Division 2.

The opening minutes saw RCA trying to control the tempo of the game with Synners taking a more direct approach.

Synners whilst trying to play out from the back were constantly harrassed and forced into mistakes by RCA's forwards and midfield and in the 23rd minute Callen siezed on a poor pass and, with the keeper out of position pulled the ball back to Davison who slotted into an empty net.

On 30 minutes O'Neill limped off to be replaced by Moan. He took only five minutes to put his stamp on the match with a superb 25 yard strike which flew past the Synners Keeper. Callen was again instrumental in the build up.

Callen Hat Trick secures friendly win at Horden

Submitted by Rob Jones on Saturday, 6 July 2019
Saturday, 6 July 2019 - 2:30pm
Friendly


RCA started their 2019 - 20 campaign with a hard fought win away to Horden CW.

Both teams looked lethargic in the first half with the main chances falling to RCA but some superb saves from the Horden keeper and poor finishing by the visitors meant that they were unable to take advantage of their superior possession.

Indeed it was the hosts who took the lead late in the first half when a long through ball was guided over the head of Ezard and into the net.

RCA looked full of purpose in the second half. With Callen moved to a more central position he was receiving more of the ball and was soon on the score sheet, completing his hat trick inside a 20 minute spell during the second half. 

Dylan Elliott completed the scoring in the final 10 minutes with a rasping shot from 30 yards out.

Next up is away to Billingham Synthonia on Wednesday, 10 July, kick off 7.30pm.

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