Tuesday, 23 April 2013
EBAC Northern League Division 1
Goal scorer: Whitley Bay: Wardle og.
Sunderland RCA welcomed Whitley Bay to Meadow Park for this re-arranged Ebac Northern League match after the first was called off when the electricity supply unit failed and almost set fire to the away dressing room.
Also in attendance at the match was a film crew from the FA who were doing a piece on the Secret Shoppers initiative. It has to be said that both dug outs seem well behaved and but for a few lapses by the players the general mood was one of let's enjoy the game.
RCA made only one change to the team that played so well on Saturday, Redman came in for Richards and the misfield was reshuffled so the Marron moved into misfield to partner Close.
A brisk opening five minutes saw both teams go close. A break by Shaw was halted by Reid but the loose ball was picked up by Marron who fired goalward, the ball took a deflection for a corner and the resulting kick was cleared by Kerr.
In Bay's first attack Kerr found Davis with a direct ball, but his cross into the box was cut out by Redman and the danger was averted.
RCA then produced a great move. Shaw picking the ball up on the right touchline cut inside and beat two defenders, forced along the edge of the 18 yard line he produced a lovely through ball to Marron but the midfielder was unable to get his shot on target.
The impressive Kerr once again picked up a ball deep in his own half before releasing an inch perfect pass to Chow who fired straight at Foden.
In the 16th minute, a long ball out of defence found Fawcett on the right wing and in acres of space, the Bay winger whipped in a cross which was deflected into his own goal by Wardle with Chow in close attendance.
Unfazed by this set back, RCA continued to take the game to Whitley Bay and in their next attack Shaw once again looked to cut inside before shootng narrowly wide.
Whitley Bay took a firm grip on the game just before the half hour mark and it was only some fine defending than averted an avalanche of goals, Reid combined with Davis to create an opening but the Bay defender fired straight at Foden, then a beautifully weighted crossfield ball from Kerr was inches away from Chow who from five yards out would surely have scored if he made any contact and then a little backheel flick from Robinson fell to Brooking who also shot straight at Foden.
Having survived this onslaught RCA looked to get back in the game and a long ball from McGuinness found Gordon on the edge of the box, his shot was blocked and the rebound fell to McGuinness but his curling shot went wide.
In the final minutes of the half a raking shot by Shaw beat Hammond in the Bay goal but went narrowly wide of the upright.
The second half was in much the same vein as the first but reversed as RCA took the initiative and Whitley Bay were forced to defend.
Shaw was causing problems for the Bay defenders and was really unlucky when he latched onto a bouncing ball from Close, he got to the ball before Hammond but could not find the net with his lob, the keepe managing to get a hand to it.
Davis, at the other end, fired wide when in a good position.
RCA seemed to sense that they could get something out of the game and continued to push forward, a cross into the box by McGuinness was headed out for a corner by Blake the resulting kick was headed into the danger zone by wardle but Reid scrambled the ball clear.
Back came RCA. Shaw fed a lovely ball through to Gordon who fired in a vicious shot which Hammond did well to parry out but only as far as Marron who fired over the bar from 12 yards out.
It was relentless pressure fromn RCA, but nothing to show for their efforts, throwing men forward did have its drawbacks as Chow started to find space in the RCA defence. Twice in quick succession the ball was cleared up field into the path of Chow and both times he was not able to test Foden as he slid the ball wide of the post. One the one occassion he did hit the target Foden was equal to the shot and saved easily.
As the game entered the final 10 minutes, it seemed that it was only a matter of time before RCA scored. Attack after attack was being thwarted by a rock solid Bay defence and when RCA did breach it Hammond was in fine form.
In the 85th minute RCA were awarded a freekick on the edge of the box, McGuinness took the kick, floating it to the back post where Close rose and headed against the post from three yards out.
The game ended with RCA still attacking but not getting any luck in front of goal.
Another excellent performance by the whole team and a good game to watch for the neutral. If RCA can continue to perform at this level until the end of the season then points should start to coming their way.
The performances of Marron, Close and Redman were exceptional tonight, but everyone played their part in a great team performance.
Whitley Bay played their part in a very entertaining match with Kerr, Scroggins and Reid the pick of their team.