Sunderland RCA 2 Walker Central 1

Under 18s - County Cup

20 November 2008

Well for SRCA's very young side to play both of the undefeated teams from the North Division in the same week was always going to be a tough ask. Buoyed by Saturday's win at Newcastle East End though it was a case of rolling up the sleeves again for tonight's County Cup tie against Walker Central. Only one change was made to the Saturday eleven, Marc Moon coming in at right back for Anthony Gamble who was switched to the centre of defence for Michael Jacob who was unavailable.

Walker won the toss and elected to play against the slope with a reasonable wind in their faces. SRCA kicked off with optimism, but were quickly closed down as the visitors seemed unperturbed about the conditions and were looking to get forward quickly and make their clear physical and height difference count. After winning a couple of throw-ins and then a free kick it was disaster from RCA's point of view in the third minute when great skill from right winger Adrian Watson saw him beat a couple of defenders, cut into the box and fire an early shot which deceived keeper Ryan Graham, the ball bouncing out to centre forward Dean Wear who drilled home from 10 yards. 1 - 0 to the visitors and a real awakening for RCA.

Walker were full of confidence and the home side were flustered in the first 20 minutes, struggling to get their passing game going. Hurried clearances were the norm. However after 25 minutes Robinson, Tench and Bailey were getting more on the ball, looking to release Page and Andrews up front with early balls. The confidence and shape were now improving and a couple of half chances were scrambled clear by the Walker defence who were not showing the same composure as in the early stages. Both RCA fullbacks were also pushing forward, then on 30 minutes right back Moon was confident enough to break forward hitting a speculative 35 yard effort which was half cleared out to Tench on the right. He wasted no time hoisting the ball back in to the edge of the box which Page flicked on, the ball landing at the feet of Andrews who cleverly shifted feet to hit across the goal and into the bottom corner of thenet. 1 -1 and much more like it from the home side.

Moments after Nicholson in the RCA midfield split the defence with a great through ball for Page who with the keeper to beat was pulled up for offside.

Walker rallied again but Ashman, Gamble and Dunn were very comfortable at the back, with very strong headed clearances. Half time approached with the game swinging the way of the home side, but no one could predict which way this one was going to go.

The second half started in the same vein as the first, Walker out of the traps quickly again and hoping to take advantage of the stronger wind. However the back four for RCA were looking much more assured and goalkeeper Graham dealt easily with long-range efforts. After a substitution change on 65 minutes with Jordan Hardy replacing Nicholson the game was beginning to edge the way of the home side. Walker were playing longer balls and RCA were getting a lot more possession. A great midfield move pushed the ball out to right full back Moon who hit a great ball up the right wing. Page, running to meet the ball, feigned to go inside but flicked the ball on in the same direction. Leaving the full back for dead he raced on. However instead of going for goal, he hit a raking pass across the box, which the last defender got a last ditch clearance to with Andrews pressing hard.

The Walker defence was split twice in the next five minutes both chances falling to Andrews. In the one-on-one with the keeper situations hesitation allowed the keeper to gather when a sidestep looked on the cards. The second a more difficult chance the forward hit early and the keeper Mark Dawson pulled off the save of the match.

However RCA dominance paid off in the 82 minute when Robinson and Page interplayed feeding Andrews again who had an effort cleared before the ball fell to him again on the six yard box. He flicked towards goal and the goalkeeper and defender raced back but could not stop the goal. 2 - 1 to RCA.

The game petered out now with RCA keeping possession and winning successive free kicks. The referee then blew to conclude the game, a very good win which will see the team fighting on three cup fronts when ties recommence in January.

A very good week so far with a game in the Eye Infirmary Cup against Witton Park this Saturday. Let's see(!) what happens next.

Team

1 Ryan Graham
2 Marc Moon
3 Liam Dunn
4 Anthony Gamble
5 Anthony Ashman
6 Alan Tench
7 Mick Nicholson
8 Chris Bailey
9 Luke Page
10 Lee Andrews
11 Mark Robinson
12 Jordan Hardy - 65 for 7
13 Chris Hartley
14 Matty Reynolds
15 Damien Knight
16 Graeme Pickering - GK
17 Rhys Tench