Kieran Charlton makes a super run to set up RCA's third goal of the match.
After the disappointing performance on Saturday, the team had an opportunity to put things right against a Tow Law team who have made a decent start to their first season in Division I for ten years. The Lawyers were one place above RCA before tonight’s match.
As Sunderland AFC and Seaham Red Star were both at home this evening, and perhaps as a consequence of the below par performance on Saturday, we had our lowest attendance of the season.
The RCA faithful who did turn up on a bleak, drizzly autumn evening were not to be disappointed.
The manager refreshed from his short break is still without both Davison and Johnson (it seems Sunderland forwards are in very short supply at the moment). Other injuries included Patton, Lavery, Hawkins and Morris.
The teams lined up as follows:
Sunderland RCA: Marrs, Allen, Charlton (c), Hall, Jakab, Moan, Bennett, Nelson, Annang-Colquhoun, Guy, Fryatt. Subs: Charmey, Best, Richards, Ene, Ezard.
Tow Law Town: Orton, Goldsborough, Joynes, Page, Bateman, Renshaw, Hardy, Craggs, Ardelean, McAloon, Marriott. Subs: Hurworth, Anderson-DaCosta, Sinden, Mallaburn, White.
RCA started the game attacking the Cemetery end and were quickly on the attack, Bennett breaking on the right before crossing to Annang-Colquhoun but his shot was blocked and cleared by Bateman.
The home team took the lead in the fourth minute when, after sustained pressure, the ball was worked out to the right, Bennett played the ball to Allen who sent in a cross to the far post where Fryatt was on hand to send a looping header beyond the reach of Orton and into the net.
Tow Law Town seemed unable to get out of their own half as RCA piled on the pressure with their dazzling passing and movement mesmerizing the visitor’s defence who seemed unable to get to grips with the game. A shot from Annang-Colquhoun after some good interplay between Guy and Bennett was the first of a series of chances.
Guy picked up a good through ball from Moan but he shot over the bar.
When the visitors did get possession they were quickly closed down in midfield by Moan and Nelson.
Despite all the pressure from RCA it was the Lawyers who almost equalised in the 12th minute, a long clearance fell to Marriott on the left and he sent in a cross which was met by Hardy, who was unmarked inside the six yard area but Marrs made a miraculous point blank reflex save palming the ball out for a corner.
RCA responded immediately at the other end. Bennett outpaced his marker before laying the ball to Guy who dribbled past two players before playing the ball to Moan who struck a rising shot over the bar.
Nelson had RCA’s next chance a minute later when Charlton broke on the left picking up a pass from Fryatt, he crossed to the edge of the box where Moan chested the ball down into the path of Nelson but his shot was deflected wide by Renshaw. Charlton took the corner, curling the ball dangerously close to the goal but into the side netting.
After running repairs and a change of boots Charlton was back in the action, RCA were awarded a freekick on the left and Charlton whipped in a cross which was glanced over the bar by Renshaw, very nearly and own goal.
RCA should have increased their lead in the 27th minute when a through ball from Nelson found Guy completely unmarked inside the penalty area but he fired his shot wide of the target and a great chance missed.
Another freekick to RCA on the edge of the box when Annang-Colquhoun was fouled for umpteenth time. Bennett drilled the ball through the wall and it took a superb save by Orton after the ball deflected away from him and he picked up at the second attempt.
The relief was short lived as RCA doubled their lead a minute later when Jakab won the ball on the half way line, played it forward to Fryatt who crossed to the edge of the box where Nelson coolly side-footed the ball, placing it into the corner of the net beyond the reach of Orton.
As sometimes happens after a goal, RCA went to sleep for a few seconds and almost gifted Tow Law a foothold back into the game. A break by Marriott on the left is not stopped by the RCA defence and his cross into the box floated straight onto the boot of Ardelean who connected well with the ball but volleyed straight over the bar.
With the Lawyers making a number of rash challenges RCA are awarded another freekick on the edge of the box, the ball is played into Annang-Colquhoun but he hooked his shot over the bar.
It wasn’t long after that Annang-Colquhoun got the goal that his endevour’s warranted when he converted another left wing cross by somehow managing to get his head to the ball and guiding it beyond the reach of Orton.
In the final minute of the half, Moan won the ball in midfield, played it out to Bennett who squared the ball to Nelson but his effort was well blocked by Joynes.
The Lawyers started well in the second half and their early pressure earned a corner on the right. Page took the kick driving it into the box where McAloon sent a looping header onto the top of the crossbar and out for a goalkick.
RCA then picked up the rhythm of the game again playing some intricate passing moves which made it difficult for the visitors to get any possession.
In the 55th minute a ball out of defence by Allen was picked up by Bennett on the right wing he played it inside to Annang-Colquhoun who played it back out to Bennett who waited for Allen to overlap before crossing into the near post where Annang-Colquhoun met the ball with a powerful header which struck the outside of the post.
Within minutes RCA went 4-0 up, further patient build up on the right between Bennett, Allen, Nelson and Moan opened up the Lawyers defence and the final ball into the box was met at the far post by Fryatt who headed the ball past Orton and into the net.
RCA made substitutions to bring fresh legs onto the field, and substitute Best’s first contribution was to play the ball to Nelson on the halfway line, and the central midfielder raced forward before playing the ball to Fryatt who, under pressure, fired his shot wide of the target.
RCA were well on top at this point and good play between Nelson and Moan saw Moan take a shot from the edge of the box which was well saved by Orton low to his left.
With Allen now operating on the left he played the ball forward to Fryatt who found space on the left wing before crossing into the box for Moan who in turn guided the ball on to Bennett who forced another fine save from Orton.
In the final minutes of the game Fryatt had a great chance to get his hat trick when Charmey laid the ball into his path on the edge of the box but he fired over the bar.
A minute later and substitute Ene forced yet another save from the Lawyers keeper, his throw out was picked up by Goldsborough who sent a long hopeful ball forward into the RCA box where Ardelean rose to flick a header over Marrs in the RCA goal to make the final score 4-1
To say that this was a good display would be an understatement, after the poor performance of Saturday there was a massive improvement in the attitude of the players. The inclusion of Fryatt and Nelson certainly had an impact but from back to front this was a complete performance with everyone putting in a shift. It was yet another Jekyll and Hyde week of performances but at the end of the day 4th in Division I is not bad.
Next up is an away match at Crook Town on Saturday, 8 October 2022: kick off 3.00pm.