Jamie Fryatt, who has signed from Sunderland West End, attacks during the first half of the match.
Saturday, 20 October 2012
Northern League Division 1
Goal Scorer: Sunderland RCA FC Southern (pen).
Please click here for photos from the match.
RCA's starting line up was once again shuffled to bring in new signing John Parker to partner Ross Preston in the heart of the defence.
It took a late penalty converted by substitute David Southern to decide this competitive Ebac Northern League match.
RCA’s management team have been hard at work over the last week securing the services of players after transfer listing six players.
The new look team for today’s match at Dunston included centre back John Parker, who renews his partnership with Ross Preston at the heart of the RCA defence.
Dunston, who started the season shakily have steadied the ship recently and were unbeaten in their last six matches.
Both defences were on top from the off with Preston and Parker holding Bulford and Teasdale while Guerin-Lokonga and Barton were equally well marshalled by Swailes and Cattanach.
Dunston started well with McAndrew and Craggs causing a few scares early on.
In the 15th minute RCA were awarded a corner after some good work by Guerin-Lokonga; the corner was partially cleared, but fell to Richards who shot wide.
Dunston came back at RCA and in the 25th minute Parker was called upon to block a shot from Bulford with Preston tidying up to clear up field where Gibson was fouled. The winger got up and took the free kick which Connell fumbled under pressure from Preston and the ball fell to Barton who took the ball on his chest but saw his shot deflected wide by Cattanach.
Five minutes later and the game livened up as a shot from Craggs seemed to hit Forster on the hand, claims for a penalty were turned down and a free kick was awarded on the edge of the box and the shot was blocked by RCA’s defensive wall.
A lovely through ball from Bulford to McAndrew in the 40th minute was equalled by a brilliant recovery challenge by Parker who managed to make up five yards to send the ball for a corner. Dixon met the resulting corner a firm header which went over the bar.
Guerin-Lokonga looked to have slipped his marker for the first time in the 43rd minute and was fouled as he looked to get in a shot. Gibson took the free kick from 20 yards out and his shot went inches over the bar with the keeper stranded.
The second half was much like the first with both defences doing well.
In the 50th minute RCA should have taken the lead when a corner from Fryatt reached Forster at the back post, but the RCA defender missed the target from two yards out.
A long clearance from Preston found Guerin-Lokonga unmarked, but the RCA forward shot wide when a crossfield pass may well have found Southern who was free inside the area.
Dunston having made substitutions nearly made RCA pay when Herron played in a ball which Preen met at the front post but he headed wide of the target.
RCA took the lead in the 80th minute as first Guerin-Lokonga looked to have been fouled, but managed to slide the ball to Gibson who was tackled from behind and the referee pointed to the spot. Up stepped substitute Southern to blast the ball into the net with Connell diving the wrong way.
Dunston threw everything but the kitchen sink at RCA in the final ten minutes and on 85 minutes McAndrew thundered a shot against the post and Parker was on hand to clear. As the clock ticked down Preen had another effort deflected for a corner by Fryatt and Swailes headed over the resulting corner.
RCA can look back on this week and probably say that refereeing decisions have both gone for and against them.
The big plus to take out of today is that our new look defence did look solid throughout the ninety minutes.