Sunderland RCA 2 Brandon 1

Northern League

Saturday, 14 April 2007

RCA began their last home game of the season kicking off down the slope. Manager Steve Smith had adopted a 3 – 5 – 2 formation, with Andy Middelton and Ian Mathews as right and left wingbacks.

Within two minutes a left wing attack led to Si Andrews passing to John Butler in a promising position, but he was flagged offside – it looked like a very tight call. RCA were back quickly though as Si Andrews broke through and ran into the box before hitting a shot across the keeper to open RCA’s account.

On nine minutes, Si Andrews was in action again, heading goalwards from a free kick, bit it proved to soft to bother the keeper.

On 20 minutes, very nice work on the right led to Si hooking the ball into the net, but the whistle had already gone for handball.

On 27 minutes Ian – Flash – Matthews took a corner and John Butler headed over.

On 31 minutes and Andy Middleton diagonal ball was taken down by Flash but his cross shot went wide.

On 60 minutes a Brandon ball into the box was not defended and Andrew Johnson had a free header, which he looped over Niki Lawson in the RCA goal for the equalizer.

Si Andrews restored RCA’s lead within five minutes, as he connected with a right wing cross to beat the keeper from 15 yards.

On 75 minutes there was an apparently bad injury to RCA keeper Niki Lawson who went down from a challenge in obvious pain from his left ankle. Following a long period of treatment from Pop, Niki was helped off and Si Andrews pulled on the goalkeeper’s jersey.

And that was the end of RCA’s home campaign for 2006/07. It was nice to see Mr Ray Baines at the match and good that he was treated to a win.