Northern League Division 1
Tuesday, 11 September 2012
Goal scorers: Sunderland RCA FC - Guerin-Lokonga West Auckland Town FC : Campbell, Banks.
SRCA are still without a home win after yet another defeat to a well organised West Auckland Town team. It could have been so different if the lads had taken their chances in front of goal.
With key players, Jones, Preston and Gordon sidelined with major injuries the management team were once again forced to reshuffle the squad. In came Hall at centre back and Oates moved to right back, Shields started on the right and Davis on the Left in a more familiar 4-4-2 formation.
Goals from John Campbell and Stuart Banks gave West Auckland a 2-0 lead before RCA struck back through Aristote Guerin-Lokonga. RCA then had the better of play but couldn't make it pay in the final third.
A keenly fought encounter was expected and the crown of 142 were not disappointed.
West took the early initiative and Gardner was unlucky when he shot wide after some good work by Banks on the right.
In the 4 minute came the first strong challenge of the game as Shields and Green clashed as they went for a 50-50 ball with the RCA man shown a yellow card.
The game came to life in the 11 minute when a hopefull ball into the box by Pattison was misjudged by Former West player Hall and bounced through to Campbell who made no mistake blasting the ball past Atkinson.
RCA replied with a great move between Davis and Close with the ball being squared to Appleby but his shot was blocked by Stephenson. The resulting corner was punched clear by Bell.
West were using both wings to great effect with Banks and Rundle looking good in possession and it was Banks who carved open the next real opportunity as he found Moffatt with a pass and the west forwards shot was saved by Atkinson.
RCA forced another corner when Shields cross from the right was headed goalwards by Barton but the ball was scrambled away.
Hudson's kick to the far post was met by Appleby but his header went well wide of the upright. Within a minute RCA had another corner and Bell did well to punch clear when under pressure, sustaining an injury in doing so.
There was another outstanding save from Atkinson in the final minutes of the half when Moffatt latched onto a cross from Banks and struck the ball goalwards with some venom, however the RCA Keeper pulled off a terrific one handed save down to his left.
The half ended with another attack from West which produced another shot, this time from Campbell and Atkinson scrambled the ball clear.
At half time Guerin-Lokonga replaced Appleby and his presence had an immediate effect, beating the offside trap he ran into space before finding Shields on the right, his cross was met by Barton but he couldn't steer the ball home.
In the 54 minute McGuinness found Davis ith a deft past and the youngster attacked the West defence beating three players before slipping the ball to Barton who curled the ball into the net only to be adjudged offside.
The response from West was immediate and emphatic, from the free kick Bell found Campbell who slipped the ball to Moffatt, he in turn flicked the ball into the path of Banks who slid the ball into the net past Atkinson, 55 minutes and 2-0 to West.
RCA came back and 3 minutes reduced the arrears with a wonderful solo effort by Guerin-Lokonga. A long ball from McGuinness looked to be going out for throw but Guerin-Lokonga had other ideas, heading the ball back in past Pattison, he then continue his run to outpace Stephenson along the goal line before skipping past Bell to tap the ball into an empty net.
This goal gave RCA a massive lift and they responded with some good football, however once again the finishing was off key as tme and again good position were squaundered.
A cross into the box by Davis was headed goalwards by Barton and bell was able to push the ball away, straight to Paxton who volleyed the ball off the post and the ball struck Hudson on the thigh before being collected by the thankful Bell.
Minutes later and another great run by Shields saw the ball played to Guerin-Lokonga who played a neat one - two with Barton but fired wide.
West were defending well at this point and the only outlet was Moffatt up front and he did have a chance to seal it but fired well over the bar.
Barton was unlucky with a snap shop after some good work by Shields.
The finall throw af the dice was to put Hall up front and the gamble nearly paid off when a long ball from Atkinson was headed into the path of Hudson but the Ex west midfileder could only chip the ball into the arms of Bell.
All in all a thoroughly entertaining match which maybe should have produced a draw.
Next up is Marske United on Saturday.