Tuesday, 22 March 2011
Brooks Mileson League Cup Trophy
Sunderland RCA made four changes to the team comprehensively beaten at the weekend. John Toft replaced the injured Harrison Davies (out for rest of season with a double fracture of the ankle), Paul Taylor came in for Richard Logan, who was unavailable through work committments, and there was the return of Martin Smith and John Butler after long absences to replace the cup tied Keith Graydon and the departure of Paul Talbot. So it was a new look SRCA that took to the pitch on a perfect night for football.
Not for the first time this season RCA started strongly, pinning the opposition back in their half of the field. The difference this time was the bonus of an early goal scored directly from a free-kick on the left wing. Toft floated the ball into the box at the far post and Pearson inexplicably made no attempt to get to it.
Stokesley’s first chance came in the eighth minute when Turner threaded a ball into the path of Jacobs, but he fired his shot well wide of the target under pressure from Oates. Five minutes later a cross from Decosemo looked to be going out of play, but rebounded off the bar and luckily for RCA fell to Jones who was able to clear the danger.
RCA extended their lead in the 17th minute when Taylor outpaced the Stokesley defence before picking out Smith in the box. The ex-Sunderland star showed great composure taking one touch to control the ball before striking it past Pearson from 12 yards out. To their credit Stokesley continued to play some attractive football in the middle of the park, but could not find the telling ball in the final third.
In the 23rd minute a speculative shot from Wheatley hit Beasley on the head and deflected the ball over the bar for a corner. From this kick Turner rose above everyone but could only steer his header over the bar.
RCA had a great chance to increase their lead when a through ball from Ellison found Toft who in turn set Carling up inside the box, but with only the keeper to beat he dragged his shot wide.
A late flurry from Stokesley saw Turner shoot wide and Allinson head over when both would have been expected to do better.
Stokesley started the second half in much the same vein as they had finished the first and after two minutes should have reduced the arrears when Allinson was again unmarked in the box, but could only scuff his shot wide with only Hoggeth to beat. RCA then got into their stride and a cross from Walton found Toft free at the far post, but he was unable to control his shot and scooped it over the bar.
The pressure was increased by RCA and it was no surprise when Walton made it 3 - 0 when Taylor swept past a static Stokesley defence before crossing the ball to Walton who hammered the ball home from close range. Within minutes the game was put beyond Stokesley grasp when a long cross-field ball from Toft found Walton who produced a bit of magic on the right to beat his man before setting up Taylor who managed to force the ball into the net.
A spate of substitutions then took place and during this period a lovely ball from Hume found Decosemo inside the box and he was able to score unchallenged to make the score 4-1.
Allinson was again guilty of missing a great opportunity in the 85th minute; it was obviously not his night, as he fired wide when in a good position.
As the game petered out Dalton fired into the side netting.
Over the 90 minutes this was a solid RCA performance with some fine individual displays from Toft, Taylor and Walton which will give the management team a selection headache for Friday.
SRCA will play Spennymoor Town at home in the semi-final after they defeated Bedlington Terriers 2 - 0.
