Tuesday, 20 March 2012
STL Northern League Division 1
Scorers: Sunderland RCA FC: Jennings (15) (66), Close (88) Newcastle Benfield FC: McAvoy (40)
RCA welcomed Newcastle Benfield to Meadow Park and were forced to make one change to the starting line up with Oates replacing the unwell Berj in midfield.
Benfield, with Perry Briggs in charge, were looking for a better performance than that which saw them beaten 5-2 by Billingham Town at the weekend. He must have been well pleased with this performance as they produced the best opposition that RCA have met this year and must feel aggreived at the final score line.
RCA for their part endured the first half onslaught and had to produce a quality second half display to overcome Benfield on the night, it took an 88th minute goal to finally seal Benfield's fate as up until then it could have gone either way.
The match kicked off on a calm March evening with Benfield taking advantage of the slope in the first half and they took full advantage as they pressed RCA back on the defensive, the RCA back line were forced into long clearance after long clearance in a effort to quell Benfield's attacking flair.
The opening ten minutes were almost entirely played in the RCA half of the pitch, both Bell and McAvoy had long range efforts which went wide before Gray chanced his arm with a shot from 12 yards out which went inches over the bar. With their first real attack of the game RCA scored. A clearance by Beasley was won in the air by Davison and he directed his header on to Jennings who seeing Grainger off his line headed over the stranded keeper into the net.
This should have started an RCA revival, but Benfield didn't see it that way, a strong run down the right by Bell almost produced the equaliser as he slipped the ball to Guerin-Lokonga who looked to beat the defender before powering in a shot which took a defection and ended up in the grateful arms of Atkinson.
Benfield were back two minutes later, they were awarded a freekick 25 yards out which Bell took and forced a fingertip save from Atkinson. At this point the only time that Grainger had touched the ball was to pick it out of the net. Atkinson was by far the busier keeper. Benfield were well on top and their passing and movement was mesmerising at times. Fortunately for RCA they were not really producing anything of note in the final third.
A strong 40 yard run by Paterson went unchallenged and he was allowed to get in a fierce shot which dipped narrowly over the bar.
In the 28th minute of the game came the miss of the season when Gray skipped past his defender before crossing the ball inside the six yard area to Bell who somehow managed to miss the goal from two yards out, sending the ball back across the empty goal for a goal kick.
Collins had a great chance to equalise when he powered a free header over the bar from a Gray corner.
The pressure eventually told in the 40th minute when, after some sustained pressure from Gray and Bell, the ball was slipped through to McAvoy and he made no mistake from six yards out. The goal created an immediate response from RCA. It was as if someone had lifted a weight off their shoulders as they powered their way back into the game. A cross from McGuinees was headed narrowly over by Walton. A minute later and a great cross from Walton was met by Davison who headed down into the path of Jennings, but he put his shot wide.
In the final minute of the half Bell had a half chance aurned away from his marker to fire in a shot which went well wide.
The way the first half ended RCA supporters could br forgiven for believing that the second half would be easy kicking down the slope. Benfield were not in the mood tonight to concede without a fight and this they did to produce one of the best games of football seen at Meadow Park for some considerable time.
RCA started well and Walton had an effort which went wide before a long range effort from Oates was easily saved by Grainger. Back came Benfield, they were awarded a corner which was headed clear by Paxton. Jennings helped it on its way as far as Benfield defender Collins, who fired in a great shot just wide of the upright.
The game was truly coming to life with both teams looking to attack at every opportunity.
A slick move between Close and Davidson took the ball beyond the Benfield defence. Walton latched onto the loose ball and from 35 yards out tried to float the ball over the head of Grainger; this opportunistic effort was inches wide of the upright. A minute later and a quickly taken throw by Davidson caused panic in the Benfield defence as McGuinness's cross was headed down by Oates and Jennings was on hand to flick the ball past the helpless Grainger and into the bottom corner of the net. Benfield responded with a quick flurry of attacks which were repelled by both Paxton and Beasley.
In the 80th minute Benfield were awarded a freekick 30 yards out and Bell drove in a great cross which Antony managed to get a foot to, forcing a save from Atkinson. The resulting corner was headed over by Bell. Two minutes later and RCA had a great chance to put the game to bed. McGuinness picked the ball up on the half way line and carried it ten yards before sending the ball toward the Benfield area. Jennings got on the end of the cross and chested it into the path of Close who blasted the ball goalwards forcing Grainger to make a terrific block before recovering to complete the save at the second attempt with Close bearing down on him.
Straight up the other end from Grainger's kick, the ball was headed on by McAvoy and found Bell in space; the Benfield forward took two touches before curling in a shot which went wide of the upright.
RCA broke the hearts of the Benfield players and supporters in the 88th minute when a freekick by Oates was headed back across the six yard line by Davison and Close was on hand to prod the ball home. A simply worked goal that ended a terrificly entertaining football match. The old cliche of a game of two halves was used again tonight and rightly so, Benfield, undoubtebly had the lion's share of the first half while RCA had the greater share of the second. On balance RCA probably created the better chances in the 90 minutes and just about deserved to win. It could have been a different story if Gray had taken his chance in the first half.