Andrew Johnson opens the scoring for RCA with a cool finish.
More photos from the match are here.
This was a quick turnaround for the players and ground staff, as we entertained Seaham Red Star two days after our defeat to Whitley Bay.
The annual Bank Holiday local derby against our near neighbours’ Seaham Red Star who, it has to be said, have had better starts to the season but a 4-1 win in the FA Vase will have boosted their confidence a bit.
A clash of colours, only noticed during the warm up and when the team sheets were handed in, meant a delayed kick off while the Home team secured a change of kit and allowed time for the players to get ready.
The management team was forced into making changes due to holidays, work commitments and injuries.
The teams lined up as follows:
Sunderland RCA: Marrs, Lawrence, Charlton ©, Jakab, Allen, C Patton, Guy, Charmey, Davison, Johnson, Annang-Colquhoun. Subs: Richards, Moan, Lavery, Ene, Ezard.
Seaham Red Star: Jennison, Bragg, Taylor, Bott ©, Nelson, Donnelly, Jones, J Robinson, T Lawson, M Robinson, C Lawson. Subs: Hailes, Dart, Pearn, J Patton.
Another sunny day in Ryhope greeted the players for this local derby and the action started from the kick off with RCA kicking towards the cemetery end launched the first attack. Allen switching play with a good ball out to Charlton who played the ball forward to Annang-Colquhoun, he did well to control the ball before playing it back to Charlton whose cross into the box was intercepted by Jennison.
The Red Star keeper’s clearance found Taylor on the left and he moved forward before lashing a long range effort over the bar.
A forward move by RCA was stopped when Gott fouled Guy on the edge of the box, Patton took the freekick which took a deflection off the wall, but Jennison managed to get both hands to the ball which was creeping inside the post.
Once again Jennison set up the next attack with a throw out to Bragg who moved forward unchallenged into the RCA half before sending in a great cross into the path of T Lawson whose effort hit the post and rebounded to Marrs.
Within minutes RCA took the lead, Charmey challenged for the ball on the half way line, and the ball ran loose to Annang-Colquhoun who played the ball forward to Johnson on the right, he played the ball to Guy who cleverly clipped the ball over the visitors defence into the path of Johnson who drilled the ball through the legs of Jennison and into the net.
Red Star responded with a quick attack which resulted in a corner when Lawrence blocked a shot from C Lawson, the resulting corner was headed clear by Allen.
The visitors were almost level in the 18th minute when Jennison sent a long ball forward which was collected by T Lawson and his shot smashed against the inside of the far post, the rebound fell to M Robinson who fired over the bar.
RCA pushed forward again with Charlton playing the ball to Davison who dropped the ball off to Charmey but his dipping effort from 25 yards out cleared the crossbar.
The game was becoming very scrappy, not helped by some strange refereeing decisions, which confused both the players and the supporters.
RCA had a penalty appeal turned down after Charlton found Johnson on the edge of the box, the RCA striker moved into a shooting position inside the box only to be fouled (see Simon Mears excellent Photograph of the incident) in the act of shooting but for the third time in two games the referee waved the appeals away.
Red Star broke quickly as the game continued and when the ball was played forward by Taylor, it was picked up by Bott who hit a low drive towards goal, it took a wicked deflection off an RCA defender and Marrs did well to recover to make the save.
RCA should have been 2-0 up a minute later when Lawrence played the ball to Guy on the right wing, he dribbled his way forward before crossing to Davison who was in acres of space on the penalty spot but the striker scuffed his shot and it was easily saved by Jennison.
The second half started with RCA attacking the Beechbrooke end and they were soon on the attack. Annang-Colquhoun winning a corner on the left, Charlton whipped the ball into the area where it was partially cleared to the right, Jakab picked up the loose ball and sent in a cross which was destined for Davison but Jennison plucked the ball off the head of the RCA striker.
With the visitors seeming unable to get out of their own half it was no surprise to the home supporters when RCA increased their lead, an excellent run down the left by Annang-Colquhoun who, despite being fouled, managed to get in a cross which was met by Davison, hit J Robinson and rebounded to the edge of the box where Patton struck a magnificent half volley into the top corner of the net.
A bizarre incident stopped RCA making it 3-0. A crossfield ball from Lawrence found Guy on the left, he crossed into the unmarked Davison with the defenders all shouting that the Assistants flag was up everyone stopped, “Sparky” flicked the ball up while the referee shouted across to the Assistant “Put your Flag down”, and a defender hoofed the ball clear. Debatable if Davison had lashed the ball into the net whether he would have received a second yellow for kicking the ball away.
Another spell of scrappy football ensued.
Seaham Red Star’s first effort of the second half came in the 80th minute when a good ball forward by Bragg was picked up by Jones whose cross into the box found T Lawson but he scuffed his effort and Marrs saved easily.
Another break down the left by Charlton resulted in him being brought down by a strong challenge from behind on the edge of the box, from the freekick the ball bobbled about in the area before being picked up by Jennison.
A jinxy run by Johnson on the left ended with a cross into the box to Richards who hit a rising shot from the edge of the box just over the bar.
A final flurry of activity from the visitors saw Bott’s shot blocked by Allen and a cross cum shot from Nelson, which was dipping under the bar, palmed over by Marrs.
This was good three points which has halted the run of disappointing results against top teams. There were some very good performances on the pitch today and given that they only had one day's rest between games they did extremely well.
Next up we play top of the table Newton Aycliffe at Home on Saturday, 3rd September 2022, Kick off 3.00pm