Sunderland RCA 3 Brandon United 0

Ernest Armstrong Memorial Cup - Semi Final

21 April 2009

It was semi final time again at Meadow Park tonight for the second successive year, in the Ernest Armstrong Memorial Cup. A bit like public buses you wait 27 years for one then two come in quick succession. There was a good atmosphere beforehand, with a lively contingent of visiting Brandon supporters helping set the stage. In fact approaching kick off time there were over 130 in attendance; not massive by any means, but enough to give a proper feel of what non-league football is all about. There were team selection problems for the SRCA management, with midfielders Stewart and Halliday unavailable, together with central defender Reay. Neil Hixon though, as with other matches this season, had no hesitation in making benefit of the club's good youth policy by adding Liam Gill and Lee Andrews to the squad from the U21 and U18 set ups.

In winning the toss, RCA captain Wardle surprisingly elected to take the half with slope advantage but only marginal wind at the home sides backs. Clearly the intention was to get at the visitors early and RCA were quickly on the attack and within minutes Andy Jennings did have the ball in the net, but the referee pulled the forward up for reversing into a Brandon defender. However the momentum had started and Brandon defenders were being tested early. After Jennings was fouled a couple of yards outside the penalty area, Davison stepped up to hit a ferocious direct free kick at the target which Brandon keeper Robert Joyce palmed firmly and confidently away for a corner. RCA were being very direct in the early stages with free kicks and corners won and half chances headed wide by both central forwards. However after the first quarter Brandon started to show good momentum with right full back Liam Bramley winning possession and linking well with Matty Hornsby, then Paul Dixon to make headway into the RCA box. At times the visiting side's football was a joy to watch with many successive passes as the visitors aimed to control the midfield area. Whilst enjoying the bulk of possession however the final pass was not finding forwards and RCA broke away twice to make direct attacks on the Brandon goal. Richards and Shields both created half chances, which were scrambled clear for corners. From one of the corners centre half Wardle could have done better when rising in the box unmarked he met the ball well but headed at least a yard over the bar. McGuiness also got on the end of another but glanced the ball wide.

Brandon captain Heslop was doing a very good job in playing a defensive midfield role resulting again in controlled possession by the Brandon side, who were keeping to their game plan of swift movement and passing, with the full backs on both flanks pressing more. Good opportunities in attack were wasted when any advancing forwards did not meet crosses fired in. Jones and Henderson at the back for RCA had to work overtime with some excellent defending. However the visitors had to re-organise when wide player Ian Pritchard had to be replaced having twisted his knee. After the substitution Brandon had to re-organise and after the half hour RCA increased momentum and winning possession at will a lot of crosses were fired into the box. On 35 minutes the breakthrough came when a corner on the right was fired into the front post where Jennings challenged well and although getting the slightest of touches a Brandon defender turned the ball into the net. 1 - 0 and RCA on their way! Not a great goal but massive relief now for home supporters who cheered loudly. Much more like it now and SRCA were pressing at all opportunities. Only minutes to go before half time and Brandon were defending admirably, however when good play freed Jennings in the box he held the ball well, turned out to the left and after sidestepping one defender he went wide again, feigned to shoot, wrong footing all and sundry, including the crowd, he pulled the ball back for his strike partner Davison who put the ball into the empty net, one of his easiest chances of the season. 2 - 0 and very hard on Brandon right on half time.

It was time now for RCA to reshape in the interval with Wardle unable to continue after pulling his hamstring and Glenn Moan eagerly entering the fray. Brandon really attacked now and wave after wave of attacks were met with a resilient home guard. Possibly the key moment of the game came on 60 minutes when two good chances were made for their forwards Fothergill and Dixon and the stop of the match by Hoggeth in the RCA goal when he saved at point blank range, forcing the ball away from six yards. A totally different game could gave been on offer if a breakthrough could have been made, but Brandon would live to regret the wasted chances. On 70 minutes Jennings, who was having an exceptional game, caused problems up front and racing with the ball he moved towards goal and again beating defenders with great ball control, he got into the box and at the point of pulling the trigger a last ditch challenge brought the forward down. Immediately the referee blew the whistle for the penalty. Davison stepped up with confidence and fired into the corner. 3 - 0 and Brandon definitely with it all to do. Hixon made further changes replacing Joseph with Coghlan and then Shields with Laidler, as RCA attempted to close the game down. Brandon to their credit went right until the end and if any player deserved something from the game it was their right back, Bramley, who worked and overlapped until the end crossing in twice from wide right only to see one chance hit over the bar from close range and one deceiving all in the box.

The referee finally blew and celebrations from the both sets of supporters who applauded what was a very competitive match and a proper advert for Northern League football. Another season drawing to a close and it is most likely that the final league placing will be fourth for RCA - the same as last, but our equal best position in 20 years.

Also as losing finalists in this same competition last year can we go one better and finally win some Northern League silverware? The final is at Chester-le-Street Wednesday, 6 May, kick off 7:00 PM. Let's hope supporters get behind the team like tonight. It's very good times and some great football at Meadow Park. Let's all savour the moment! The match reporter most certainly is; it might be time for a new role - this job was made for me!