Callum Patton shields the ball from former RCA defender Danni Lay.
More photos from the match are here.
West Auckland Town were welcomed to Sunderland LGV Park for this Ebac Northern League Division 1 fixture.
As neither team had recorded a win in their previous league matches a competitive match was expected. The performance of RCA on Saturday against a strong Hebburn side meant that confidence was high before the match.
The management team made an unexpected three changes to the starting line-up, with Lawrence, Guy and Charmey replacing Allen, Johnson and Annang-Colquhoun.
The teams lined up as follows:
Sunderland RCA: Marrs, Lawrence, Charlton ©, Nelson, Hawkins, Jakab, Patton, Moan, Davison, Guy, Charmey. Subs: Johnson, Annang-Colquhoun, Richards, Richardson, Ene.
West Auckland Town: Wilkinson, Wade, Hegarty, Potter, Lay ©, Stafford, Jackson, Noble, Heslop, Ellis, Nicholson. Subs: Hindson, Fryatt, Wright, Blinco, Bennett.
RCA took advantage of the slope in the first half, but it was the visitors who almost opened the scoring in the first minute, a long ball forward from Lay found Heslop who broke between to RCA defenders, but Jakab was on hand to block the West striker's shot.
West were having the better of the opening exchanges with RCA having to defend deep. A break down the right by Wade opened up space and his cross to the edge of the box found Former RCW striker Ellis but he sent his effort over the bar.
With quarter of an hour gone West were awarded a corner on the right, Noble fired the cross into the box where Lay rose, but under pressure from Hawkins, headed over the bar.
RCA first real attempt came a few minutes later when Patton curled a free kick inches over the bar with the West keeper beaten.
The home team started to show signs of the attacking flair which had great success against Hebburn. Moan picking up a clearance from Hegarty switched play with a wonderful cross field ball to Charlton who controlled the ball first time before whipping in a across which was booted clear by Potter with Davison ready to tap home if the West defender missed the ball.
A minute later from the throw in Charlton again whipped in a low cross which found Guy inside the area and his first time shot produced the first save of the match from Wilkinson.
The game was flowing from end to end with both team’s defences on top and it wasn’t until almost the half hour mark that either keeper was really tested, Nicholson received a good ball forward from Jackson before cutting inside and unleashing a low grass-cutter which forced a magnificent save from Marrs at his near post.
A minute later and RCA forced a corner on the left, Charlton took the kick and the ball fell to Charmey who hit a shot which rebounded off Potter and the “West” defence managed to scramble the ball clear.
Good build up play between Jakab, Davison and Patton produced another good effort from the RCA striker, unfortunately the shot went inches the wrong side of the post.
Having weathered the RCA pressure, West struck back, Noble playing a good ball to Jackson on the edge of the box but he snatched his shot wide of the target,
Then Wade again found a little space on the right, evaded the challenge of Charlton, before cutting the ball back to Jackson but he blazed his shot over the bar.
RCA almost scored with the last kick of the half when Marrs’ long ball forward was headed on by Patton and Davison picked up the loose ball he proceeded to make space for the shot before pulling the trigger and his thunderbolt of a shot skimmed the bar and the referee blew for half time.
The second half started with a terrific chance for the visitors when Hegarty crossed in from the left, the ball behind the RCA defence went across the face of goal to Heslop at the far post but he could only guide his shot wide.
West’s next attack was broken up by Nelson and the ball was cleared up field by Hawkins to Guy who did well to hold off the challenge of Lay before playing the ball to Davison on the edge of the box but his effort cleared the crossbar.
Even at this early stage of the half it looked like one goal would settle the match. A West free kick taken by Ellis drifted harmlessly over the bar.
The introduction of Annang-Colquhoun was causing a few problems for the visitors, a through ball from Nelson was picked up by Annang-Colquhoun, who slipped past one defender before his initial shot was blocked by Potter, he then hit the rebound straight at Wilkinson from a very acute angle.
Another RCA attack was curtailed when Potter dragged Johnson to the floor on the edge of the box, the free kick was headed away by Lay but only as far as Annang-Colquhoun who whipped in a lovely cross which only needed Davison to connect to score but the striker missed the ball completely and it was cleared.
West came forward once again and a great run by Noble was halted by superb tackle by Jakab on the edge of the box and the ball ran out for a corner. The resulting corner taken by Noble was drilled into the box and met by Lay; his bullet header went inches over the bar to the relief of the RCA contingent.
With the game entering injury time another RCA attack was stopped on the edge of the box and cleared forward to Noble who made a forward run before striking a terrific shot towards the top corner of the goal and although Marrs got a hand to it he couldn’t prevent the ball from going in.
This was a game of few clear cut chances won by a terrific strike from an ex-RCA player. A bit of a come-down from the high of Saturday’s performance, but it was always going to be a big ask to repeat it.
Not really a bad performance against a team who will be there or thereabouts next April.
Next up we are away to Penrith on Saturday, 13 August 2022, kick off 3.00pm.