29 August 2009
skilltrainingltd Northern League Division 2
Sunderland RCA kept up the 100% record in the second division with a hard fought victory over a spirited Birtley Town team.
Birtley Town without a number of key players started well and were unlucky not to score in the first 5 minutes when Brown had a shot deflected wide for a corner. Johnson then fired well wide when in a dangerous position.
RCA seemed to take an age to adjust to the pace of the opposition, but when they did a quick passing move between Coghlan and Richards resulted in a cross that brought a great save by Regan from a Davison header. Birtley counter attacked and only a great save from Hoggeth denied Terrell.
After 20 minutes Birtley were awarded a corner and when the ball came in the header by Armstrong hit Coghlan who was on the goal line and was cleared to Jones who found McBryde with an inch perfect ball and his finishing was clinical. RCA 1-0 up against the run of play.
Within a minute Davison had another header saved by Regan. RCA were starting to put some good moves together and were causing the Birtley defence problems with balls into the box. It was Birtley who almost equalised next when the ever dangerous Terrell fired in a shot which was turned round th epost by Hoggett.
Regan in the Birtley goal was called upon again after 30 minutes and saved with his feet from Davison. Stewart fired over the bar a minute later when in a good position. There was little Regan could do about the second goal when Davison rose high above the Birtley defence to powerfully head home a Coghlan freekick.
In the early part of the second half RCA took control of the midfield and started to play the sort of football we Know they are capable of. McBryde was unlucky with a shot that went wide and a Davison header flashed just over the bar. A surging run from Coghlan saw him almost score, but the final shot was straight at Regan.
It was however Birtley who came nearest to scoring when substitute Hughes went on a solo run, cutting in from the right wing he unleashed a terrific shot which struck the post before rebounding to safety. A minutes later and Brown shot tamely wide from a very promising position.
McLeod finally killed the game off when he headed in at the far post from a corner after 76 minutes.
Birtley responded with some good football, but RCA's defence, ably led by Wardle, coped with everything that was thrownn at them in the final 10 minutes.
The difference between the two teams today was the clinical finishing of RCA.
