Saturday, 10 April 2010
skilltrainingltd Northern League Division 2
Sunderland RCA maintained their push for promotion with this hard fought win against a strong Northallerton Town team. The cause was not helped by the dismissal of Scott Richards after four minutes for violent conduct. However the remaining ten men dug deep and when Hoggeth saved a Northallerton penalty after ten minutes they rose to the occasion.
Sunderland RCA are becoming skilled at doing things the hard way, five minutes into the game they were down to ten men, when Richards was dismissed for violent conduct when he retaliated after a late tackle from Richard Thompson in front of the referee who had no option but to send him off.
Click here for a slideshow of photos from the match
Northallerton Town were passing the ball well and were making the extra man tell and on 13 minutes were awarded a penalty when Halliday was alledged to have fouled Allison inside the penalty area. Hoggeth made a superb save to deny Smurthwaite's well struck spot kick.
This seemed to lift RCA and they went on the offensive, a cross from Stewart was headed inches wide by Kokes and when a shot from McBryde came back off the keeper Kokes was there to stab home from close range.
The home side then took control and it was difficult to see who was playing with a man short. they were were passing the ball really well and when McBryde turned and shot it took a great save from Thompson to put it round the post. His relief was short lived as Stewart swung in the corner and Hall rose at the back post to power a header home.
RCA continued to put some good moves together and it took a smart save from Thompson just before half time to deny McBryde once again.
The early exchanges in the second half were won by Northallerton Town and only a great save from Hoggeth from Allison kept the scoreline at 2-0. Minutes later and Chillingworth fired high over the bar when he should have done better. At the other end Stewart fired well over the bar when in a decent position.
In the 55th minute Northallerton must have realised it wasn't going to be their day when a Bowman shot from 35 yards out struck the bar and then Butterworth fired a shot inches wide of the goal.
As RCA weakened Joe Fairish started to pull some strings in the centre of midfield and he was unlucky with a shot that went wide. With Winter and Smurthwaite playing well for Northallerton at the back RCA created little going forward but to their credit the 10 men worked hard to ensure that they kept a clean sheet.
Given the circumstances surrounding the first 15 minutes of this game RCA proved that they are force to be reckoned with and ran out deserved 2-0 winners in the end. However it must be said that our discipline could be the key factor in the final push for promotion. We need to keep 10 men on the park and stop the silly booking.
