Tuesday, 28 February 2012
STL Northern League Division 1
Sky Tyne and Wear video of match goals, ambulance and interview with Neil Hixon
Tonight's game was held up for 50 minutes when, in the 76th minute, Robert Briggs, on loan from Gateshead FC, fell awkwardly on his right arm and an ambulance was called. The initial diagnosis is a broken humorous and we understand that he will be undergoing an operation later today (Wednesday) to reset the bone. We all wish him a full and speedy recovery.
The match itself saw Sunderland RCA continue to find it difficult to play at home, for all their superiority in the first half they failed to convert chances into goals until the 40th minute. Then two quick goals from McGuinness and Briggs saw them take a 2-0 lead into the half time break.
It looked like game over but the second half saw Stokesley battling hard and starting to create chances of their own and after the extended break they were awarded penalty which Porritt converted to set up a very nervy final five minutes.
RCA entertained bottom club Stokesley SC knowing that a win would take them back to the top of the STL Northern League Division 1. The manager made one change from the team that beat Marske United last week bringing in Berg for the rested Walton. The match kicked off in unusually calm condition with Stokesley taking advantage of the slope in the first half. However it was RCA who were the more dominant in the opening exchanges and it took a good save from Hutchinson to deny Davison after five minutes when the RCA striker powered in a header from a Jones cross. Within a minute Davison turned provider as he sent a ball into the Stokesley box, Briggs rose highest to head into the path of Berj, but he curled his shot just wide of the upright.
In the tenth minute RCA were awarded a corner which was swung in by McGuinness and Briggs headed narrowly over the bar.
Stokesley withstood the pressure and slowly started to make in road into the RCA defence, a strong run by Dunford in the 13th minute saw him beat two defenders before cutting the ball back for Porritt, but the Stokesley forward hurried his shot and it sail well wide of the target.
A long ball out of defence by Atkinson almost caught the Stokesley defence napping as Shield was first to the ball, he squared it to Davison who cut the ball onto his right foot before firing over the bar.
Berj should have opened the scoring on 22 minutes when he was set up by Close but Hutchinson once again made a terrific save to deny the RCA midfielder.
RCA were pressing for an opening goal and when Shields beat the Hutchinson to a high ball he squared it to Davison who, with the keeper out of position, fired at the empty net only to see Mohan somehow manage to head the ball off the line. It was relentless pressure by RCA and Davison was twice denied by the acrobatic saves of Hutchinson. Stokesley’s only response at this time was a cross shot from their captain Holbrook, which had Atkinson scrambling across his line but the ball went wide. Eventually, the RCA pressure told and it was McGuinness who broke the deadlock in the 38th minute when he picked up the ball 35 yards out, strode into space before unleashing an exquisite left foot drive low into the far corner.
RCA made it 2-0 on the stroke of half time when they were awarded a corner. McGuinness swung the ball into the box and Briggs was well place to head home from 8 yards out. Game over one would have thought.
Stokesley came out for the second half really fired up and took the game to RCA. A positional change at half time saw Bivens moved to a more forward position and he almost reduced the arrears when he headed a Davies cross goalward and it took a tremendous save from Atkinson to keep the score at 2-0. More was to follow from Stokesley, a corner was headed away by Oates but only went as far as Porritt who fired the ball back toward goal and Atkinson was forced to make another save at the foot of the post. RCA needed to step up a gear and this they did; a freekick by James was headed over the bar Paxton and three minutes later the same player rattled the bar with a header from a Briggs corner.
In the 65th minute once again a surging run from Close saw him in space, The RCA captain chose to set Berj up instead of shooting himself and unfortunately Berj, with only the keeper to beat shot wide of the target.
In the 70th minute a lovely pass from Briggs set up Shields, his shot beat the keeper but rebounded off the post to safety.
In the 76th minute, Briggs challenging for a high ball fell awkwardly on his right arm and the game was stopped while the physio assessed the problem. It was obvious almost immediately that there was serious problem and an ambulance was called. The game was delayed for 50 minutes waiting for an ambulance, although a paramedic arrived to administer initial pain relief. When the game restarted, RCA where left with ten men to see out the final 14 minutes.
Whether the injury to one of their players affected them or whether Stokesley took advantage of the extra man is debatable.
Stokesley were awarded penalty with five minutes to go when Davies was brought down in the box and Porritt made no mistake with the spot kick. This set up an interesting last five minutes, but RCA held on for all three points taking them back to the top of the league.