Saturday, 20 March 2010
skilltrainingltd Northern League Division 2
Sunderland RCA FC should have bagged all three points at Whitehaven and only two monumental errors by a better than average referee denied us. His first was in denying Davison his hat trick when he headed home. Reason given was a pull on the goalkeeper's jersey by an unknown player. The second was in the last minute of the game when Shields was fouled just outside the box, he gave a non existent advantage as Whitehaven had the ball and they scored from the long ball out of defence.
Sunderland RCA started this match fantastically well putting Whitehaven under pressure from the off. In the third minute a slick one-two between McBryde and Kokes set up Davison, but he fired wide.
RCA took the lead on 11 minutes when Hall took the ball past a Whitehaven defender before crossing for Davison to volley home from 10 yards out.
Whitehaven's first effort on goal came in the 15th minute, when a smart passing move resulted in a long range effort from Shaw which was easily saved by Hoggeth. Immediately RCA went up the other end and Kokes rounded the keeper before shooting only to see his effort blocked by Lewis. RCA were dominating the play and Whitehaven were guilty of giving the ball away in key areas. McBryde and O'Riordan were a constant threat on the wings and their balls into the box were causing major problems for a shaky Whitehaven defence.
Davison scored his second when he was the quickest to respond to a shot from O'Riordan which struck the underside of the bar and bounced for him to head home from close range,
In the 43 minute Hoggeth was called into action for the second time of the half when he saved from Shaw again.
The second half started much the same as the first with RCA attacking and Whitehaven reduced to counter attacking.
In the 50th minute O'Riordan was unlucky to see a shot from the edge of the box clear the bar by inches and a minute later a Davison freekick was well saved by Miller. Connolly then tested Hoggeth as he skipped past two defenders before firing straight at the keeper. Kokes had a glorious chance to make it 3 - 0 when he was sent clear by McBryde, but his shot was well saved by Miller.
The game turned in the 78th minute when the referee disallowed what looked like a perfectly good goal which would have given Davison his hat trick. Whitehaven took advantage of the situation and Connolly was allowed to much room to get in a shot which beat Hoggeth low dow and nestled in the bottom corner.
In the 83rd minute Davison once again headed goalwards only to see Miller, at full stretch, tip the ball onto the bar and away for a corner.
With the 90 minutes up the referee decided to give a non-existent advantage when Shields was up-ended and Miller fired the ball forward to Connolly who finished with some aplomb from 25 yards out.
RCA should have had this game wrapped up well before the 80th minute, but it just goes to show that missed chances will cost points at this stage of the season.
