19 September 2009
skilltraining Northern League Division II
Sunderland RCA continued their unbeaten League run against a hard working Washington team. Another three points keep them clear at the top of Division II.
RCA were once again caught napping in the opening minutes of the game when a through ball from Lydon found Emmerson unmarked inside the box and he made no mistake from 12 yards out.
Within four minutes they had equalised when Stewart's supurb cross evaded the Washington defence and found Davies at the far post and he cooly slotted home.
Washington were unlucky when Reays cross was volleyed over the bar by Emmerson and Watling had a shot which flew wide. A quick Coghlan freekick to Davies almost punished Washington as the cross found Richards but his shot was deflected for a corner. From the corner Richards headed over.
Within a minute a cross from Taylor found Davies at the far post, but this time he volleyed the ball wide of the target.
A bizzare incident near the end of the half when Watling challenged McLean in the RCA goal and the ball ran free, Watling picked himself up and stabbed the ball home. The Assistant Referee disallowed the goal presumably for a foul on the keeper.
An even sillier incident occurred after six minutes of the second half when the whole Washington back four appealed for offside against Taylor as he ran past them; the keeper raced off his line and was favourite to get to the ball, but Taylor challenged him and won the ball and from near the touchline curled the ball into an empty net.
RCA started to dominate in the next 20 minutes with constant pressure on the Washington goal, Davison had a header fly over the bar, Davies should have killed the game off with shot that flew wide. A minute later and a Davison header found Richards who crossed for Coghlan, but he shot over. Within minutes Davies won a header in the box and the ball fell to Davison who chested it down before hitting a shot which Starford saved brilliantly. From the corner Anderson had a great header well saved by Starford.
Washington having survived this onslaught came back at RCA and some good work by Lydon and Oliver in the centre of the park saw the latter make a supurb pass which found Emmerson free and his shot beat Mclean but was cleared off the line by Jones.
In the 85 minute Davison received a pass from Richards, turned and fired in a shot which beat Starford, but rebounded off the upright; the ball fell to McBryde 12 yards out but he fired over the bar.
This seemed to spur Washington on and they finished the game putting pressure on the RCA defence without really testing McLean.
