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Arngrove Northern League Division 2
Saturday, 24 November 2007
RCA produced an excellent performance against a North Shields team who were in good form themselves.
Only one change from the team against Birtley, with Scott Richards coming in for the suspended Dean Goodwin. Richards signed a few weeks ago from Bishop Auckland with a good reputation and first division pedigree, but his appearances have been restricted due to injury and suspension, so knowledgeable fans were looking forward to seeing him perform.
RCA started brightly and Richards had the first attempt on goal with afine effort in the 4th minute. Shields had some decent possession early on, but RCA always looked more dangerous, and should have taken the lead after an excellent Gary Shields run left Lee Owens with a good shooting position in the 10th minute, but the North Shields keeper pulled off the first in a string of fine saves. More efforts on goal came up at regular intervals for RCA, before the deadlock was broken by Gary Shields in the 37th minute when a good ball from midfield left him in on goal and he finished coolly.
1-0 at the break, and a few spectators were thinking that RCA might regret not taking the chances they had through the half, as North Shields would surely offer more as the game wore on. The second period however started in the same vein as the first, and the only surprise was that those spectators had to wait until the 63rd minute before a superb Anth Laidler long range effort was too hot for the keeper to hold and Paul Sammons followed in smartly to net the rebound.
Sunderland RCA continued to have all the chances and many fans were pleased to see Jon Butler, slowly getting back to form after a long break through injury, finish the job by getting on the end of a good Lee Owens diagonal ball to slide it past the keeper and make the final score 3-0. A very good display against a side that were made to look quite ordinary despite their recent good run. RCA were solid at the back, aggressive and creative in midfield and, despite missing a few, had a good conversion rate from the front men. Very promising!