Saturday, 13 February 2010
skilltrainingltd Northern League Division 2
Sunderland RCA suffered only their third defeat of the season at the hands of a very hard working and organised Whickham team, but it could have been so different if they had been able to convert any of about five chances in the first 20 minutes.
Sunderland RCA started this game on fire putting Whickham under pressure from the off. A Stewart cross after four minutes found Kokes, but he steered his shot wide of the upright. A Davison shot which looked destined for the net was saved by Robinson at the expense of a corner and Stewart's corner kick was headed over by Hall.
Whickham counterattacked through Swanson, but Jones was equal to the task and set up another RCA attack, a superb pass found Ascherl just inside the box who in turn found Stewart who tried to cut the ball back into the path of Davison, but the ball was cleared. In making this pass Stewart was injured and had to be replaced.
This gave Whickham the chance to start again and as RCA's game became narrow they were able to cope easily with most of RCA's game play and towards the end of the half put RCA under pressure with a series of dead ball situations where Patterson went close with a low shot.
The second half was a very even affair with both teams attacking whenever possible.
In the 63rd minute RCA looked to have broken the deadlock when Davison rattled in a shot from 10 yards out after some good link up play. The goal was ruled out when the assistant referee ruled that Davis had handled the ball in the box when it was clearly the hand of Wilkinson the Whickham defender.
With 12 minutes remaining Whickham took the lead. Robson evaded two challanges before drilling the ball low into the bottom corner. RCA responded with two great efforts, Davison inside the box turned and fired in but Robinson was equal to the task. In the final minutes Robinson produced another top draw save from Davison turning the shot round the post.
Whickham held out for a well fought win although RCA can feel agrieved not to have at least come away with a point.
