George Pinder competes for the ball during the first half of the match.
The appointment of Martin Swales and Gee Errington till the end of the season in conjunction with a massive media presence in the last seven days saw an excellent turn out at Sunderland LGV Park for today’s Ebac Northern League fixture against the Steelmen of Redcar Athletic.
The third time this season that we have had to re-organise an almost full team, although this was inevitable with the introduction of a new management team
Into the team came Trewick, Davis, Leonard, Mouat, Fenton and Bell.
The teams lined up as follows:
Sunderland RCA: Wilkinson, Davis, Turns, Bowmaker, Trewick, Hodgson ©, Leonard, Mouat, Fenton, T Bell, Pinder. Subs: Lennox, Demirel, Hubbard.
Redcar Athletic: Norton, McNeill, Thompson, Guru, Miller, Holdsworth, Boyle, Hutchinson, Coleman, A Bell ©. Subs: Marshall, Sayer, Fletcher, Milburn, Bean.
On a very cold day the teams were accompanied onto the pitch by Sunderland RCA YFC under 8’s whites with the help of the under 11’s Gold’s. “Well done Lads”
Prior to kick-off there was an impeccably observed minute's silence to remember Tim Robinson, a long time Supporter, Photographer and Website Manager of Sunderland RCA. Tim was a quiet, humble man who will be sadly missed by all who knew him.
The match got under way with RCA facing the Cemetery end and they were quickly put under pressure by a Redcar Athletic team who were looking for an early goal. However the RCA rearguard stood firm and repelled the early pressure.
With so many new players it was always going to take time for them to gel and the Steelmen took advantage of this fact when Holdsworth picked up a loose ball after a mix up in midfield between Bell and Mouat, he quickly sent the ball out to Bell who hooked in a wicked cross toward Hutchinson but Wilkinson was on hand to pluck the ball off the striker's head.
RCA started to get a bit more possession as the half wore on and although there was little in the way of goalmouth action the buildup play was encouraging. A good run on the right by Davis started RCA first real attack with the full back playing the ball forward to Fenton, he played the ball to Leonard but his return pass was cut out by McNeill.
With 25 minutes gone RCA had a great chance to take the lead, Pinder picked up a throw out from Wilkinson before hitting a 40 yard pass into the path of Fenton who controlled the ball well before moving into the box but with only the keeper to beat he struck a low shot which hit the foot of Norton and flew over the bar.
This had the effect of instilling some urgency into the Steelmen’s attacking. A long ball forward found Holdsworth on the right, he cut the ball back to Coleman on the edge of the but he scuffed his shot and Wilkinson was able to save easily.
A minute later and the visitors were back on the attack this time a ball out to A Bell on the left was played first time into the box where Trewick was able to head away and the follow up shot by Hutchinson went well wide.
The pressure was building on the RCA defence and in the 35th minute they fell behind when a cross from the right was headed into the air by Bowmaker and he was unable to connect with the follow-up header and the ball fell to Hutchinson who directed his shot out of the reach of Wilkinson and into the net.
It could easily have been 2 -0 two minutes later when Hutchinson broke down the right before crossing to the edge of the box where A Bell, in plenty of space completely scuffed his shot and it bobbled through to Wilkinson.
RCA went up the other end and a good through ball from Mouat found Fenton in space, his shot was blocked by Thompson but as Pinder went to retrieve the ball near the goal line an over enthusiastic Ball boy collected the ball and gave it to the Norton in the Redcar goal. The referee stopped play and restarted by giving the ball back to the Redcar keeper.
In the dying minutes of the half, RCA conceded another goal when a cross from the left was met at the back post by Coleman who directed a powerful header just inside the near post to make it 2-0.
RCA with the advantage of the slope in the second half started well with an early attack through Leonard, he played the ball back to Turns who whipped in a cross which was met by Pinder but he mishit his shot wide of the target.
With 50 minutes gone another long ball forward was picked up by Holdsworth who looked to be at least 4 yards off side but with no flag he was allowed to continue before coolly placing the ball out of the reach of Wilkinson.
The visitors made a double substitution and within minute had made it 4 – 0, a great through ball from Garbutt split the RCA defence and A Bell raced clear before slotting the ball into the net.
Two minutes later and a tired looking RCA were out done by a slick piece of team work as the Steelmen rampaged through their defence, Miller played the ball to Coleman, who plays in Hutchinson and he makes no mistake from 10 yards out.
The scoring was completed in bizarre circumstances five minutes later when Guru won the ball on the halfway line before sending a speculative ball forward, the assistants flag was immediately raised as Holdsworth was obviously in an offside position and moved toward the ball however, with RCA waiting for a freekick, the ball was actually picked up by Milburn who crossed to the back post where Holdsworth has the easiest of tap ins from close range.
As they say when your luck is out it is well and truly out.
With 20 minutes to go both sides made their final substitutions with a forced Redcar substitution of the substitute goalkeeper coming on and Norton, the first choice keeper going up front to replace the injured Thompson.
The final score slightly flattered the visitors but they managed to make the most of the opportunities that came their way.
With a completely new look team, under new management, there were definitely signs of improvement, they need a training session to get to know each other and then take it from there.
Redcar rode their luck in this game and had Fenton been a bit more clinical with the first half chance then this game could have easily have had a different outcome.
We move on to play Tow Law Town away next Saturday, 4th March 2023. Kick off 3.00pm.