31 October 2009
skilltrainingltd Northern League Div. II
Sunderland RCA lost out to a workmanlike Stokesley team with the only goal of the match coming from ex RCA player Andy Jennings.
How RCA did not get something out of this game is a mystery. For long period of the match they dominated but they could not produce the finishing required on the day.
Within five minutes of the start Stewart raced clear of the Stokesly defence and his cross was met at the far post by Davies who fired wide from two yards out. Three minutes later and Taylor was unlucky with a snap shot. A cross into the box by Davies was dropped by the keeper, but Taylor and Davison did not react quickly enough and the danger was cleared by Andrew O'Shea. At this point Stokesley had not had a meaningful attack.
After 15 minutes a cross field ball from McGuinness found Stewart in acres of space as he moved into the box, but fired his effort wide with only the keeper to beat.
An injury to Taylor seemed to dispupt the attacking options of RCA and Stokesley started to get more into the game. A shot from Jennings was well aved by Hoggeth and minutes later a long range effort by Yalcin went well wide. RCA were struggling to create any chances during this period and it was only a superb save from a Radigan freekick by Hoggeth that kept the score at 0-0.
The deadlock was broken when Jones was caught in possession on the byline by Stewart and his cross found Jennings unmarked and he tapped home from four yards out.
At the start of the second half Jennings almost made it 2 - 0 when he beat two players before firing low into the corner, but Hoggeth was well placed to save easily.
RCA changed up a gear and forced Stokesley back and only some last ditch defending kept them in the game. A shot from Davison went narrowly over the bar. Minutes later and a cross from Noble found Davison who fired the ball at the goal, but it was cleared of the line. RCA continued to bombard the Stokesley goal and reduced them to breakaway attacks during one of these attacks a splendid effort from Yalcin was turned over the bar by Hoggeth. RCA then hit the post and the follow up was fired wide.
Good defensive work from Stokesley denied any further real chances and the game ended 1-0 in favour of stokesley.
