Tuesday, 22 February 2011
STL Northern League Division 1
Ryton and their home ground Kingsley Park have been something of a bogey team for Sunderland RCA, who have been at the wrong end of the result on each of their visits over the course of the last four seasons. RCA had a chance to end this run as they visited a struggling Ryton side who are currently adrift at the bottom of the STL Northern League First Division.
RCA manager Neil Hixon came into the game with virtually a full squad to choose from; only Keith Graydon was missing from the team that lined up a week earlier against Newcastle Benfield. Returning to the starting line-up was Marc Ellison, in for the aforementioned Graydon, Scott Richards and, leading the attack, Martin Smith and Richie Logan.
RCA began the match quickly, passing the ball intensively in an attempt to break down the Ryton defence. It became clear quickly that Ryton’s pitch, uneven in patches, was not conducive to the passing game that dominates much of RCA’s attacking play.
RCA opened the scoring after 10 minutes with a direct piece of football. A long ball played out from the back was misjudged by the Ryton centre halves and Logan was able to latch onto the ball, clean through on goal. Taking two or three extra touches the ball seemed to have bobbled away from him, but at the last moment, as the keeper advanced, Logan stabbed the ball into the near corner.
RCA were looking to play more directly and two long balls switched out to the left created the best two chances of the first half for Harrison Davies. The first ball, played into his feet, allowed Davies to run at the Ryton defence. Beating two defenders, Davies elected to shoot from the edge of the area and his effort bent over the bar. Joe Walton provided Davies with his next chance playing an excellent ball over the top. Davies got in behind the Ryton defence and going one-on-one with the goalkeeper he took an extra touch that narrowed the angle and, when perhaps the better option was to go around the keeper, poked at his shot, which was easily saved then defended.
Both teams became guilty of giving the ball away as attacks were building which gave a scrappy feel to the first half of play. Returning after the interval RCA again continued to create chances, but failed to find the finishing touch. After an extended spell of pressure in the early stages of the second half RCA were camped inside Ryton’s 18-yard box trying to intricately work the ball. Chances fell to Logan, Martin Smith and Carl Beasley, but none could apply the finish in what eventually turned into a goalmouth scramble.
RCA finally doubled their lead when Logan took advantage of a goalkeeper's spill after Davies had cut inside and fired goalwards after 70 minutes. The goal, with the introductions of Paul Taylor, John Toft and Chris Smith who replaced the tiring but excellent Ellison, gave RCA a new emphasis. Minutes later Logan ran the centre back, getting to the byline and pulled the ball back in the direction of Toft’s late run. Toft did not get there, but the defender, who felt he had to deal with the situation, turned the ball into the back of his own net.
RCA’s fourth came from Davies who was now getting more space down the left to influence the game. With the ball at his feet Davies outpaced the Ryton defender and struck a low, hard shot that went beneath the keeper.
RCA continued to create chances. Logan should have completed his hat-trick when he waltzed through the Ryton defence, beating three players, to put himself one-on-one with the goal keeper. He feigned to shoot one too many times giving the defender a chance to get back and block his eventual shot.
With the final kick of the game Taylor should have got his first goal since returning to the club when he latched on to a clever ball played in between the centre halves, but he place his shot straight into the goalkeeper's arms.
RCA took all three points to banish any lingering doubts about Kingsley Park and avenge the early season home defeat to Ryton that remains their only win of the season in any competition. However, the night will be remembered for RCA’s wastefulness in front of goal that has continued to persist in recent weeks.
