Saturday, 9 April 201
STL Northern League Division 1
Click here for a slideshow of photos from the match
Sunderland RCA made the long trip to Penrith’s new Frenchfield stadium with a much depleted team. Only the bare eleven travelled with injuries and suspensions accounting for six players being unavailable and the late withdrawal of two players due to work commitments.
The players who did travel proved that, even in adversity, RCA are capable of making an impression in this league. The game itself was a bit of a non event with Penrith scoring in the 21st minute through Otway who ghosted in, unmarked, at the far post to steer the ball past Hoggeth.
Penrith looked dangerous with Douglas causing most of the problems with some foraging runs.
RCA were not without their chances and shots from Walton and Tymon tested Holand in the Penrith goal, while Hoggeth was on hand to palm away a shot from Wilson.
The best chance of the half fell to Tymon who created a great opening when sent clear by Richards, but the lone striker was guilty of looking for support when a shot at goal would have been a better option.
Penrith made it clear early in the second half that they would be happy to defend deep and hit RCA on the break. This they did to great effect and with the outlet of Douglas on the left and Jackson on the right they made life difficult for RCA’s overstretched defence.
Douglas should have made it 2-0 when he jinxed past three defenders before firing in a weak effort which Hoggeth dealt with easily.
RCA were harshly treated two minutes later when Graydon seemed to get the better of Gray and as he set himself to shoot at goal appeared to be brought down on the edge of the box, but the referee waved play on.
Within five minutes the complexion of the game changed when RCA were awarded a penalty, when after a goalmouth scramble the ball was blasted towards goal by Walton, Gray the Penrith centre back flung himself at the ball which clearly hit him on the face, but the referee indicated that it had struck his hand. In the ensuing melee between the officials and Penrith players, the home club physio was very aggressive towards Graydon. Justice seemed to be done when Tymon hit a weak penalty at Holland.
The game ended giving Penrith a much needed and probably just deserved three points. With Jarrow Roofing only managing to draw this makes RCA mathematically safe from relegation and plans have already begun for next season.
