Wednesday, 7 December 2011
STL Northern League Division 1
On a bitterly cold night, Sunderland RCA showed the battling determination and team-work that has been the hallmark of their season thus far. They continue to astound even their most ardent admirers with their unbelievable away form. Unlike the two Manchester teams, who crashed out of European competitions last night, RCA showed that they have players who can respond when the going gets tough.
What a revelation Andrew Jennings was, brought in to replace the injured Mark Davison, his presence up front contributed greatly to the success of the team. Once again when the chips were down up steps Brian Close, leading by example and typifying RCA's belief in themselves this year.
For 25 minutes of this game RCA were under extreme pressure from Bedlington as the home team looked to repeat the 4-1 drubbing dished out earlier in the season. Stewart, wide on the right, was causing problems and maybe should have done better when, after five minutes, he cut inside McGuinness before tamely shooting well wide of the target. A similar move two minutes later saw Stewart pass the ball this time into the area to Shandran who was closed down quickly by Oates and the striker fired over the bar.
The home supporters didn’t have long to wait for their prolific striker to get on the score sheet, a sublime through ball from Carr evaded the RCA defence and Shandran ghosted in behind Oates to steer the ball past Atkinson.
In the 23rd minute, dangerman Shandran picked up the ball on the edge of the box, turned and crossed into the area; it took some excellent defending by Jones to turn the ball over his own crossbar when under pressure from Baptist. Eventually, RCA responded and in the 25th minute a cross into the box by Walton found Jennings who turned and fired in a low shot which was saved by Pickering. Within a minute Pickering was called into action again when Benjamin found room on the left and his on target shot was parried away by the keeper and Flynn tidied up.
The tide was turning as Close and Cuthbertson got hold of the midfield. A superb move in the 30th minute should have resulted in a goal as Walton, Cuthbertson, Close and Owens combined to get the ball into the area where Jennings was unlucky to see his shot narrowly miss the target with the keeper beaten. Back came Beddlington, Stewart clipped the ball into the path of Shandran who laid the ball off for Bowey, his shot was somehow saved by a combination of Atkinson and Oates and the ball fell kindly into the arms of the RCA keeper.
RCA scored from the subsequent clearance as Atkinson launched a long ball upfield. Owens was able to get a neat header into the path of Benjamin and the RCA striker made no mistake from eight yards out. Five minutes later and RCA could have made it 2-1 when an Owens freekick went inches over the bar.
If the first 25 minutes belonged to Bedlington then RCA commanded most of the remaining 20 minutes and the game was evenly balanced.
RCA continued their comeback with a great second half display that had Bedlington reeling from the 50th minute when Jennings controlled the ball and set up Benjamin, but his effort was well saved by Pickering. Three minutes later and Benjamin set up Close, but his effort went wide.
On the hour mark there was a brilliant piece of improvisation as Bengamin brought the ball down with his left foot then clipped it forward towards Walton on the edge of the box. The RCA winger managed to play a one two with the shin of the Bedlington defender before blasting the ball past Pickering.
With a number of substitutions made Bedlington started to get back into the game. A free kick by Stewart was headed over by Carr and a Shandran header was saved at the second attempt by Atkinson. Shandran, who was still causing some problems, had a shot deflected for a corner by McGuinness and then RCA went down the other end and had a strong appeal for a penalty waved away.
In the last minute of the game Bedlington almost secured a draw when a cross into the box found Elliott, but he skewed his shot wide.
RCA deserved all three points for a brilliant second half performance.