Pre-season friendly
Saturday 14 July 2007
In their first friendly of the season Sunderland RCA travelled to North Yorkshire to face Bedale FC. Playing 4-4-2,
RCA started very brightly and at a great pace and had the home side under constant pressure from the off. Within five minutes of the start RCA were rewarded with a corner and from a great delivery by Robinson, Anderson soared above the home defence only for the keeper to produce a full length save. Butler reacted quickest and a shot on target was cleared off the line. Further pressure was applied and from a free kick on the left hand side of the box Robinson's curling effort hit the bar. RCA quickly retrieved the ball and some neat passing between Dixon and Jarvis played Matthews in down the left hand side. He went past two defenders before playing the ball to Butler who crossed to the far post, where the inrushing Middleton blazed over.
With the away side comfortably in charge they seemed too take their foot off the pedal and allowed Bedale some respite. RCA's passing now became long and scrappy and this resulted in attacks breaking down or shots being fired in from the ambitious 30-yard plus range. Bedale mounted a couple of attacks of their own as the half drew to a close, and Lawson was forced to pull off a full length tip over the bar, after Anderson and Massey were caught ball watching and their big centre forward latched onto the loose ball.
Half Time 0-0
With thee subs entering the fray, RCA seemed much more determined to get the ball down and press home their superiority. From the start of the half they were on top and Crew and Robinson were causing all sorts of problems for the home defence. The introduction of Hembrough on the right hand side was becoming a more and more influental factor as the extra injection of pace was overwhelming the home side.
It was no suprise the red and whites took the lead, a great through ball from Dixon was jumped on by Crew who beat the last defender, rounded the keeper and rolled the ballinto an empty net. With almost unanswered pressure RCA increased their lead when Robinson released Hembrough down the right hand side. He raced to the bye line, fired in a low cross, and Matthews, coming in from the left, hammered low and hard past a stranded home keeper.
Better was to come for the away side, now showing by far the better fitness levels as the best goal of the game was scored. Lawson rolled the ball to Peel at right back who, having dummied two forwards played the ball to Jarvis. He in turn sent it first time out wide to Hembrough who left the full back in his wake before again delivering a great ball for 18 year old debutant Richie Rowe to slot in from six yards. A great move covering the full length of the pitch in just four passes. From this point RCA remained comfortable, and keeping the passes short, easily played out the game for a good return to action and a clean sheet.
N Lawson, A Laidler (C Peel), M Lundy, GD Anderson, B.Massey (N Dodd), A Middleton (S Hembrough), K.Dixon, K.Jarvis, I Matthews, J.Butler (W Crew), P.Robinson (R Rowe)