Saturday, 6 March 2010
skilltrainingltd Northern League Division 2
Sunderland RCA took all three points in a hard fought match against a very competitive, young Brandon United team who never stopped trying. In the end RCA proved too strong for Brandon who tired as the game entered the final 10 minutes and RCA took advantage to move five points clear at the top of the division.
Brandon were quickly into their passing game and a good spell of early possession ended with a shot from Bowman being well saved by Hoggeth.
The game then became scrappy with the ball being given away cheaply by both teams and the game got bogged down in a midfield battle. Brandon had a free kick 25 yards out, but Fothergill fired his shot straight at the RCA wall and the danger was cleared.
As the half progressed RCA started to penetrate the Brandon defence and after some good work by Richards, Ascherl was sent clear, but his attempt at lobbing the keeper went narrowly wide.
Within a minute Ascherl, who was playing in a more advanced role today, fired in a shot which was well saved by Myers.
Quick interplay between Jones and Ascherl should have been rewarded with a goal but the final shot from Jones flew over the bar.
RCA were almost caught in the final minute of the half when a crossfield ball found Bowman who tried a cheeky first time shot from fully 40 yards out which cleared the bar and landed on the roof of the net.
O'Riordan replaced Davis at half time and made an immediate impact, beating two players before crossing into the box for Stewart, but he fired over from five yards out.
Brandon broke out and a searching ball from Bramley found Verity free on the edge of the box and he fired in a low shot which scraped the foot of the upright.
The game was starting to open up now with RCA forcing their opponents to defend deep. A right wing corner was not cleared and Hall sent in a fierce shot which Myers was equal to.
The game changed dramatically with the introduction of Coghlan, with almost his first touch of the ball he hit the bar with the keeper well beaten. Five minutes later a pass from Ascherl found Coghlan on the right and his crossshot was magnificently saved by Myers at the expense of a corner. Coghlan took the corner and found Hall, unmarked, 12 yards out, and he thundered home his header.
As Brandon weakened RCA started to press for a second, but were denied by some good defensive work by Guy and Newby.
RCA were maybe feeling the effects of a hard match at Marske, but Brandon aquitted themselves well today.
Special mention must be made to RCA's defensive record this season: 14 clean sheets (8 in the last 9 games) must be a club record, if not a second division one.
