Saturday, 23 October 2010
STL Northern League Division 1
Click here a slideshow of photos from the match.
A superbly headed goal by substitute Craig Bishop in the 92 minute was enough to give Norton & Stockton Ancients all three points in this hard fought encounter.
A draw looked on the cards as both keepers performed heroics in making crucial saves to keep the score at 0-0 on 90 minutes. However it was not to be for RCA who were gutted to concede so late in the game.
Sunderland RCA almost took the lead in the opening three minutes of this game when Davies skipped past two defenders before curling a wicked cross into the box where the initial shot from Parkin was saved by Provett and Richards following up had his shot deflected by Huggins for a corner. Five minutes later and a cross from Parkin found Smith on the edge of the box and his pass to the far post found Logan who took too long to shoot and Norton’s defence eas able to clear the deanger.
Norton quickly got into their stride and a long range effort from Jamie Clarke brought the first action of the game for Hoggeth who made a straight forward save. A pass from Huggins found Shaun Clarke running into space and a mistimed tackle from Beasley brought him crashing to the floor earning the RCA defender the first caution of the match. Hoggeth saved the shot from Jamie Clarke. At the other end Logan and Smith combined to set up Coghlan and his effort from 25 yards brought a great save from Provett.
The game flowed from end to end with few major chances until the game came to life in the 40th minute, a mis-placed back pass from Oates was intercepted by Jamie Clarke who progressed inside the 18 yard box before unleasing a terrific shot which Hoggeth somehow managed to get a hand to it, as the ball landed back at the feet of Clarke it looked like a simple tap in from six yards out, but once again the strong hands of Hoggeth managed to parry the ball away for a corner.
RCA broke quickly from the corner, but where caught in possession and a beautiful pass from Huggins found Shaun Clarke inside the RCA box and he blasted his shot goalward. Hoggeth flung himself at the ball and just managed to get enough on it to allow Beasley to clear the rebound of the line.
At the start of the second half Norton pressed RCA deep into their own half with an awesome display of possession football. Hoggeth and the RCA defence were called upon time and time again to put their bodies in the road of a multitude of shots from Norton. Shaun Clarke had a shot saved and the rebound was fired over by Huggins, than Hoggeth pulled off atremendous save from Jamie Clarke before Mulligan fired in a shot which for once beat Hoggeth but hit the post and rebounded to safety. RCA weathered this frantic 20 minutes and started to create openings themselves when Coghlan found himself in space just outside the box but fired over.
As the game wore on more chances were being created. Coghlan had a shot brilliantly saved by Provett when he looked odds on to score and two minutes later Logan was sent clear by Smith, but with only the keeper to beat he fired straight at Provett and the keeper somehow managed to get his body in the way of the shot by Coghlan as he followed up on the rebound.
The game was not without its excitment and who could have envisaged the finale?
With time running out Bishop had a snap shot from 25 yards out which was destined for the top corner when Hoggeth somehow got a gloved hand to it and the ball went for a corner. RCA attacked from the corner and Provett was on hand to make a last ditch save from Smith.
More was to follow when the assistant referee flagged for a goalkick deep into injury the game looked to be over, however the referee overruled him and awarded a corner which was whipped in by Clarke and Bishop headed home to the delight of the home fans.
