22 August 2009
skilltrainingltd Northern League Division 2: Attendance: 72
This match between two teams who are looking for promotion this season was always going to be a tense affair and so it turned out with a single goal enough to secure the points for Sunderland RCA.
Marske took the game to RCA From the off and could easily have been in the lead inside the first 10 minutes but for some resolute defending by Wardle and Reay at the heart of RCA's defensive line up.
Skelton was unlucky with a shot that went narrowly wide after 12 minutes as Marske continued to pile the pressure on. RCA could have gone 1 -0 up against the run of play when a cross from Shields found McGuinness unmarked at the far post but he headed straight at Ledgeway in the Marske goal.
In the 25 minute Gamble broke into the RCA box and only a well timed challenge from Wardle stopped him from scoring. Marske looked to be in control and it was only their final ball that was missing.
RCA started to halt the tide of pressure after half an hour and were unlucky as first Davison headed narrowly over the bar and then Davies was adjudged to be off side when put through by Coghlan.
In the 40th minute Blair had probably the best chance of the half for Marske but somehow managed to head over and two minutes later from a corner the same player headed over again. The half time score of 0-0 reflected how well both defences had coped.
The quiet first half was matched by an explosive second which saw referee Mr McMullen at the centre of a number of controversial decisions.
With 5 minutes of the second half gone Hoggett was called upon to save from Gamble and a minute later Bradley shot wide.
Once again RCA weathered the early pressure and came back at Marske. Davison saw a well placed header saved by Ledgeway. RCA were looking more composed now and looking to go forward with Shields and McBryde combining to set up Davison but his header went well wide. McGuinness almost broke the deadlock with an audacious shot from 35 yards out which only just went over the bar with the keeper beaten.
McBryde did break the deadlock in the 60 minute when he rose higher than everyone else to head home from six yards out.
From the kick off a clumsy challange by Richards had everyone off their seats and it is easy to say in hindsight that he should have been booked for the challenge but the referee chose only to speak to him. This backfired within minutes when a clash between Reay and Skelton resulted in punches being thrown and two red cards being issued. A further red card was issued when Swalwell was given a second yellow card for what appeared to be grabbing someone by the throat.
The game degenerated from that point on with the referee losing control and dishing out yellow cards like confetti.
Both RCA and Marske had penalty appeals turned down with the referee and assistants reluctant to make any sort of decision on the incidents. Within the last five minutes Halliday had a great chance to finish Marske off but fired wide.
Marske had plenty of chances to equalise late in the game but some good defending and poor finishing meant that RCA keep their unbeaten league run going.
As others see us
The bloggers from Around the Grounds were at this match. You can read their view here.
