North Shields 3 Sunderland RCA 7

Arngrove Northern League Division 2

Saturday, 29 March 2008

SRCA welcomed the return of central defenders Paul Wardle and Wayne Henderson for today’s game, whilst Jon Minnis was selected in goal. Defender Paul Stout who was used as a central defender at Ryton in midweek returned to his normal right back role.

In the opening exchanges North Shields started the most brightly and were passing the ball through the midfield to both flanks very impressively. After five minutes SRCA keeper Minnis had to be at his best when the North Shields number 6 hit a great effort at him from 20 yards, which was pushed round for a corner. SRCA responded with Henderson clearing long to find Jennings who glanced a header into the path of Owens who beat the full back, but pushed the ball too close to the North Shields keeper. The game was very open as both sides looked to attack at every opportunity and the home team won corners in quick succession, which were cleared desperately by SRCA. However the first clear-cut chance came to Shields on 11 minutes, who after playing an excellent one-two with Jennings, found himself with the keeper to beat, but opted to side foot, which the keeper smothered comfortably.

On 16 minutes though, SRCA were not to be denied when right back Stout played a 30-yard ball to Jennings who flicked the ball to the right ring. Owens running on beat the left fullback and a cross cum shot was fired across goal, racing in at the back post was Shields who gleefully slotted home: 1 – 0 to SRCA. North Shields were not to be put off though and on 20 minutes were having success up the left, which ended up winning successive corners. On 24 minutes they got the reward for their endeavour, but it was a very soft goal to concede. SCRA after a period of good defending allowed Robertson in to head home with a simple header and no man marking. 1 – 1 and game back on.

North Shields had a good possession period of play with SRCA looking to counter attack. In the 33rd minute the tactics paid off when Owens fed the ball through to Jennings who with back to goal, flicked up, turned and hit a 25 yarder over the advanced keeper. 2 - 1 to SRCA. The home team were rattled now as three minutes later a five man SRCA move ended with the ball at the feet of Owens on the edge of the box who shaped to shoot with his left foot, but then fired a shot in with his right which glanced off Shields, past the keeper who got a hand on it but could only push into the net. 3 – 1 to SRCA.

Minutes later Stout who appeared to pull his hamstring had to be replaced by Laidler. The change did not affect SRCA who were dominating now. The best move of the game involving Wells, Davis, then Jennings who fed Shields down the left before crossing in quickly, found Sammons who raced into the box and fired home. 4 – 1 and game over!

At half time Craig Shields replaced Minnis, who had strained his groin, in goal. He was quickly in action having to save on 50 minutes from a good drive by Dean Lee as North Shields refused to throw in the towel. In fact like the opening stages of the first half Shields were putting impressive moves together with no end product. However SRCA killed the game totally in the 60th minute when impressive play by Jennings fed the ball out to Owens on the right, he played a one-two with Richards before hitting a great cross on to the head of Jennings which flew into the net. 5 – 1 and definitely on our way now.

Newton replaced Gary Shields after 62 minutes and he was involved quickly having two efforts on goal, which the keeper saved well. It was one-way traffic as Jennings, in search of his hat trick, was pushing forward and also testing the keeper. On 74 minutes the inevitable happened when Richards fed Jennings. He turned the last defender, ran on goal and drew the keeper who partially saved before his follow up. Third goal to him and the beaming grin said it all; top of the Division Two scoring charts as well.

Was it all over? Not quite as Jon Newton fired in for seventh heaven on 88 minutes. 7 – 1. Our highest score of the season. Rain streaking down, but smiles all over for the away support.

However there were further twists after 90 minutes when first Dean Lee fired in an excellent free kick over the wall and into the bottom corner. Immediately afterwards a North Shields attack won a corner and somehow this was also turned into the net by Hitfell. 7 – 3 and a real strange scoreline! The referee then blew the whistle. Phew!!

But up to 4th now in the league and all supporters of SRCA are not complaining. Real test ahead. Can we still get into that top 3 position?