Saturday, 19 March 2011
STL Northern League Division 1
Click here for a slideshow of photos from the match
Sunderland RCA FC entertained Norton and Stockton Ancients FC at Meadow Park in today's Northern League Division 1 match. After a nondescript first half nobody could have forseen the dramatic events of the second half that gave the Ancients all three points.
The game started slowly with neither team being able to penetrate due to some good defending. Both Davies and Walton were unable to get telling crosses into the box when in good postions. In the eigth minute the first chance of the game fell to Logan after he worked an opening on the right but his final shot went wide of the target. After a succession of corners a header from Beasley was well saved by Provett. A minute later a shot from Walton was tipped round the post.
Norton responded with Owens forcing a good save Hoggeth and the rebound falling to Mulligan who fired wide when in a great position.
The half was marred in the closing stages when Harrison Davies went down with no-one near him - later confirmed as a broken ankle.
Norton Stockton started the second half in commanding fashion. In the 47th minute a ball in the box was handled by Beasley and it was left to Mulligan to open the scoring from the penalty spot.
In the 52nd minute the visitors went 2 -0 up when a long ball opened up the RCA defence and found Earl in acres of space and he fired home past the helpless Hoggeth.
In the 59th minute an altercation between Mulligan and Ellison saw the latter red-carded for the second time in two games, a minute later Norton and Stockton made it 3 - 0 when Earl scored.
RCA tried to get back into the game and a long range effort from Graydon went close with the keeper beaten. Norton and Stockton then seemed to lose their composure and in the 70th minute Mulligan was dismissed when he handled the ball on the line and Graydon stepped up to score from the spot.
Within five minutes Norton were down to nine men when Earl kicked Graydon and was dismissed. Sunderland RCA could not take avantage of the extra player. Despite constant pressure, the closest they came to scoring was when Taylor miskicked when in a good position and a free kick from Graydon sailed over the bar.
In the end Norton and Stockton deserved all three points for their superiority in the first 70 minutes of the match.
