Tuesday, 19 October 2010
Durham County Challenge Cup
In a sign that winter was on the horizon Meadow Park was enveloped in bitterly cold conditions for this Durham County Challenge Cup First Round tie with Ryton. Sunderland RCA manager Neil Hixon made a host of changes from the side that had produced such great league form recently. In defence Dave Anderson was a welcome return after a lengthy injury layoff partnering Wayne Henderson at centre half with Adam McGuinness filling in at left back. David Duke and Joe Fairish filled the centre of midfield birth while up front recent signing John Ryan came in for his full debut.
Ryton’s problems have been well documented of late and RCA looked to put their fragile side under pressure from the off. It wouldn’t take long for the breakthrough the ball arriving to Ryan 12-yards out who drilled through a host of bodies past the Ryton keeper to give RCA the lead.
Ryan was able to double his tally moments later seizing on a mistake by the Ryton goalkeeper to convert. Ryan and Richard Logan up front for RCA were causing problems for the Ryton defence with their strong running in behind the back four. A delicately clipped ball by Duke out thought everyone and left Ryan bearing down on goal to complete his hat-trick but his second touch was poor allowing the defender to challenge and then clear.
Ryton crafted their best opportunity after 25 minutes when an excellent passing interchange on the edge of the box gave North the opportunity to finish but RCA keeper Gary Hoggeth was quick to close the angle and beat away North’s blasted effort.
RCA’s third came from a moment of inspiration by Gavin Parkin who, it seams, is coming up with quite a habit of producing these types of goals. Picking the ball up on the right flank Parkin cut inside beating his first man before carrying on infield past his second and third and producing a left footed strike that spectacularly beat the keeper before going in off the post.
Just before the interval Logan made it four. Driving infield from the left Logan shifted the ball past the challenge before delivering a low drive that beat the keeper at his near post.
Feeling the game was already won RCA concentrated in controlling possession in the second half and looked to slowly pick their opponents off. In the 53rd minute Ryan was given the chance to complete his hat-trick which he gratefully took. A precise passing move that has been the signature of RCA’s attacking play over the past few weeks put Ryan through on goal and he slipped the ball confidently past the Ryton keeper.
To their credit Ryton kept on fighting until the final whistle even with the game feeling over as a contest. Yet, no consolation goal was forthcoming and pushing forward gave RCA the opportunity to punish them. Picking the ball up inside his own half McGuinness played a quick interchange before running to the edge of the Ryton area unchallenged and curling a right footed shot into the near corner in the final action of the game.
RCA record a comfortable win and passage to the Second Round where the possibility of a big fixture with Durham City or Gateshead lies in wait.
