Sunday, 28 March 2010
Sunderland Sunday League Premier Division
RCA were without captain Phil Hall and inspirational midfielder, young Jonathan Davis who has a trial at SAFC this week - good luck to him - for their top of the table clash with Humbledon Plains Farm at Bede Centre. Full back Mick McVay also missed out, still suffering from concussion received two weeks earlier. On the plus side Willie Crew returned to the side after six weeks out with broken ribs and a punctured lung.
RCA started with the howling gale at their backs and forced several good openings early on without ever testing the Plains Farm keeper, but after 15 minutes John Butler robbed Liam Dunn in midfield and went on to hit low and hard under keeper Atkinson to give Plains Farm the lead. Worse was to follow five minutes later when a long ball to the far right of the box was taken in his stride by the Plains Farm right winger and cooly slotted home to give Plains Farm a 2 - 0 lead against the gale and put RCA on the back foot.
Plains Farm were defending resolutely, inspired by Paul 'Delta' Wardle, but he could do nothing to prevent RCA pulling a goal back after 35 minutes when Willie Crew was played through and convincingly thumped home to give RCA a lifeline, going into the break only 2 - 1 down, but facing the ever increasing wind in the second half.
RCA were forced into a change for the second half when Liam Dunn was unable to continue. John Turvey was sent on with Willie Crew dropping back to play left side midfield and Martin Metcalfe going into left back. RCA knew they would have a difficult 45 minutes ahead of them, but to their credit they continued to try to play with the ball on the ground, and with both Mick Curtis and Neil Moan outstanding in central defence and youngster Jake Moan putting in a great shift in midfield, they were kept in the game. John Butler had a great chance to increase Plains Farm lead, but keeper Atkinson came up with a great stop and then RCA centre forward Andy Place found himself clear through the inside right channel after great work fron Jake Moan, only to see his shot go behind off the post.
However RCA were not to be denied and after 75 minutes John Turvey was put through in a similar position and this time he fired across the keeper to score and give RCA renewed confidence. Plains Farm responded and had another two great chances, one for John Butler and the other falling to Anthony Ross, but RCA keeper Atkinson was equal to both with outstanding reflexes to keep parity. John Turvey then had a great effort with an overhead kick which just cleared the crossbar and RCA held out to full time to secure a very creditable and hard fought 2 - 2 draw that leaves both them and Plains Farm locked together two points behind Silksworth Paragon with a game in hand at the top of the league and Hasting Athletic looming up behind with plenty of games in hand, but a tough schedule ahead given the ammount of games they will have to play midweek.
So, there's plenty of action coming up with cup quarter and semi finals and still plenty of league action in the race for the championship, which looks like it could go down to the wire.