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Sunderland RCA 3 Team Northumbria 1

Submitted by Simon Mears on Wednesday, 23 August 2017
Tuesday, 22 August 2017 - 7:30pm
Northern League 1

Dylan Elliott continued the recent trend of cracking goals at Meadow Park.

For more photos from the match please click here.

Goal scorers - RCA: O'Neill; Elliott; Callen. Team Northumbria: O.G.

Sunderland RCA’s second in another batch of three consecutive home matches was a Northern League fixture against newly-promoted Team Northumbria.

In the three seasons that Team Northumbria had been in Division Two, they have always been there or thereabouts for promotion - in the 2014-15 season they finished fourth, missing out on promotion by just two points. The following season they were even closer: again finishing fourth with 89 points and just a single point behind third-placed Chester-le-Street Town. Last season, however, despite finishing with the same number of points, 89, this was enough for a second-place finish and promotion to Division One. This season has seen one win and three defeats in their opening four matches.

For RCA, Saturday's fabulous victory and performance against Ashington in the FA Cup was the perfect way to get back on track following the disappointment of losing at Marske United last week after playing extremely well.

RCA made two changes to the side that won so impressively against Ashington on Saturday - Luke Richardson made a first start of the season, in place of Clayton Davis at right full back. And Colin Larkin was ruled out with a groin injury and replaced by James Cassidy.

The two sides lined up as follows:

RCA: Bussey; Richardson; Hodgson; McGuinness; Swansbury (c); Elliott; Charlton; Page; O'Neill; Callen; Cassidy.

Team Northumbria: Holden; Mitchell; Read; McNamara (c); Lowrie; Webster; Carr; Spence; Ardelean; Richardson; Jewitt.

Sunderland RCA 4 Ashington 0

Submitted by Simon Mears on Sunday, 20 August 2017
Saturday, 19 August 2017 - 3:00pm
The Emirates FA Cup

Stephen Callen scored two cracking second half goals.

For more photos from the match please click here.

Goal scorers - RCA: O'Neill; Callen (2); Elliott.

Sunderland RCA were back in Emirates FA Cup action against Ashington today, just a fortnight after the excellent win over Garforth Town in the Extra Preliminary Round.

RCA made two changes the side that lost at Marske United on Tuesday, with Clayton Davis making a first start of the season and Nathan O'Neill starting up front - replacing Reece Noble and Ross Preston.

The two sides lined up as follows:

RCA: Bussey; Charlton; Hodgson; McGuinness; Swansbury (c); Elliott; C. Davis; Page; Larkin; O'Neill; Callen.

Ashington: Grant; Christensen; Hornsby; Antony; J. Harmison; Buchanan; Sampson; Downey; Pearson; B. Harmison (c); McAndrew.

Prior to the match there was an impeccably observed minute's silence to pay respects to 18-year-old Kieran Oliver, a young Northern League match official who was tragically killed in a car crash last week, and the recent attacks in Spain.

Marske United 2 Sunderland RCA 1

Submitted by Simon Mears on Wednesday, 16 August 2017
Tuesday, 15 August 2017 - 7:45pm
Northern League 1

Michael Charlton makes a driving run down the wing.

For more photos from the match please click here.

Goal scorers - Marske: Gott; Round. RCA: O'Neill.

Sunderland RCA’s first away match of the season was a trip to Marske United.

Marske, like RCA, are unbeaten this season. In the FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round, the original tie ended in an epic 4-4 draw at the GER Stadium in a match that swung back and forth. Marske were victorious in the replay, winning by a single Craig Gott strike. Their only Northern League match was at Seaham Red Star, where the visitors recovered from conceding an early goal to win the match 4-1.

RCA followed up wins in the FA Cup and Northern League with a 1-1 draw with Washington on Saturday. Last season Marske won all three of the matches between the sides - both Northern League fixtures and a League Cup Quarter Final at Meadow Park.

RCA reverted back to the side that beat Penrith the previous Tuesday, with Craig Hodgson returning in midfield and Nathan O'Neill taking a place on the bench.

The two sides lined up as follows:

Marske: Dean; Crossen; O’Sullivan; Rowbotham; Carling; Wheatley; Bulmer; Gott; Earl; Round; Kelly.

RCA: Bussey; Noble; McGuinness; Preston; Swansbury (c); Hodgson; Charlton; Elliott; Larkin; Page; Callen.

Sunderland RCA 1 Washington 1

Submitted by Simon Mears on Sunday, 13 August 2017
Saturday, 12 August 2017 - 3:00pm
Northern League 1

Dylan Elliott and Luke Richardson combine to set RCA up for an attack late in the match.

For more photos from the match please click here.

Goal scorers - RCA: O'Neill. Washington: Shaw.

Sunderland RCA’s third home match in a row saw the visit of Washington to Meadow Park for a Northern League fixture.

The very fact that the match was played is thanks to Washington being saved at the end of last season after resigning from the League for this current season. The club has since forged strong links with Washington AFC and continue to play their home matches at the Nissan Sports Complex. It’s great to see clubs like Washington and West Allotment Celtic not only surviving but also still playing at Northern League level.

RCA have had a cracking start to the season - after winning all five pre-season friendlies, the form has continued, winning both competitive matches against Garforth Town in the FA Cup, 3-1, and Penrith in the league, 2-1. Furthermore, it's good to see that the five goals in those two games have been scored by five different players.

Washington, meanwhile, have only played one competitive match so far and were knocked out of the FA Cup last Saturday after a 3-0 home defeat to Dunston UTS. Their scheduled midweek fixture against Whitley Bay was postponed due to Whitley Bay's FA Cup replay with Seaham Red Star.

RCA made one change to the side that beat Penrith in midweek - Craig Hodgson was ruled out with a knee injury and was replaced by Nathan O'Neill. Luke Page moved into midfield to allow O'Neill to play up front.

The two sides lined up as follows:

RCA: Bussey; Noble; McGuinness; Preston; Swansbury (c); Page; Charlton; Elliott; Larkin; O'Neill; Callen.

Washington: Gladstone; Evans; Parker; Gardner; Laws; White (c); Edwards; Shaw; Shanks; Pickard; Brown.

Sunderland RCA 2 Penrith 1

Submitted by Simon Mears on Wednesday, 9 August 2017
Tuesday, 8 August 2017 - 7:45pm
Northern League 1

Reece Noble clears the ball during the second half of the match.

For more photos from the match please click here.

Goal scorers - RCA: Charlton; Elliott. Penrith: Coleman.

Following Saturday's excellent 3-1 victory at home to Garforth Town in the FA Cup, Sunderland RCA began their Northern League campaign with a match at home to Penrith. Penrith also had a good win at Frenchfields on Saturday in the FA Cup, beating West Auckland Town 2-1.

RCA made two changes to the side that beat Garforth Town on Saturday - Adam McGuinness returned after serving a one-match suspension and Luke Page made his full debut, replacing Jonathan Davis and James Cassidy, who were both on the bench, and RCA reverted back to a more familiar 4-4-2 formation.

The two sides lined up as follows:

RCA: Bussey; Noble; McGuinness; Preston; Swansbury (c) ; Hodgson; Charlton; Elliott; Larkin; Page; Callen.

Penrith: Dixon; N. Davidson; Dickinson; G. Davidson (c) ; Bowman; Crozier; Lawson; Main; Coleman; Wraighte; Bousfield.

Sunderland RCA 3 Garforth Town 1

Submitted by Simon Mears on Sunday, 6 August 2017
Saturday, 5 August 2017 - 3:00pm
The Emirates FA Cup

Stephen Callen retains the ball under pressure.

For more photos from the match please click here.

For Garforth Town's match report please click here.

For Garforth Town's video of the match please click here.

Goal scorers - RCA: Larkin; O'Neill; Callen. Garforth: O.G.

Sunderland RCA welcomed Garforth Town to Meadow Park for the opening match of the season in the Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round. RCA have gone six years without an FA Cup victory, and Garforth one win in the last four seasons.

With Ross McNab and James Armstrong both injured, and Adam McGuinness serving a one-match suspension for a red card in the Penrith game from last season, RCA went with a back three and wing backs for today's match.

The two sides lined up as follows:

RCA: Bussey; Noble; Swansbury (c); Hodgson; Preston; Elliott; Charlton; Davis; Larkin; Callen; Cassidy.

Garforth: Hagreen; Lazenby; Kitson; Beaston (c); Donoghue; McCrum; Leach; Coupland; Ward; Hamilton; Turner.

Sunderland RCA 2 Pickering Town 1

Submitted by Simon Mears on Sunday, 30 July 2017
Saturday, 29 July 2017 - 3:00pm
Friendly

James Cassidy scores the winner for RCA on the stroke of half time. Photograph: Simon Mears.

For more photos from the match please click here.

Goal scorers - RCA: Larkin; Cassidy. Pickering: Parker.

Following the postponement of last Saturday's pre-season friendly with Hartlepool United under 23s due to player availability problems, and the midweek trip to Esh Winning being called off because of the excessive rain, Sunderland RCA were back in action with a final pre-season friendly at home to Pickering Town looking for a fifth win to round off the pre-season positively.

The two sides lined up as follows:

Sunderland RCA: Bussey; Noble; McNab; Hodgson; Swansbury (c); Davis; Charlton; Elliott; Larkin; Callen; Cassidy.

Pickering Town: Lawrie; Marshall; Belt; Taylor; Denton; Tilsley (c); Thompson; Birch; Blott; Parker; Dalton.

Chester-le-Street Town 0 Sunderland RCA 1

Submitted by Simon Mears on Wednesday, 19 July 2017
Tuesday, 18 July 2017 - 7:30pm
Friendly

Jonathan Davis scored the only goal of the match from the penalty spot. Photograph: Simon Mears.

For more photos from the match please click here.

Goal scorer - RCA: Davis.

Sunderland RCA’s fourth pre-season friendly in eight days was a short trip to Chester-le-Street Town.

After the disappointment of being relegated last season, Chester-le-Street would no doubt be looking for a quick return to Division One by having a successful season. So a good test to play a Division One side at home, even in a pre-season friendly match.

The two sides lined up as follows:

Chester-le-Street: Cresswell; Stephenson (c); Reynolds; M. Hepplewhite; Walker; D. Hepplewhite; Surrey; McGuire; Clarkson; Wood; White.

RCA: Bussey; Richardson; Armstrong; McGuinness; Swansbury (c); Noble; Cassidy; Elliott; O’Neill; Davis; Callen.

Willington 1 Sunderland RCA 2

Submitted by Simon Mears on Sunday, 16 July 2017
Saturday, 15 July 2017 - 3:00pm
Friendly

James Cassidy retains possession during the second half of the match. Photograph: Simon Mears.

For more photos from the match please click here.

Goal scorers - Willington: Lowes. RCA: Larkin; Callen.

A short report today, folks - Sunderland RCA travelled to Willington looking to extend the pre-season winning run to three matches.

RCA lined up as follows: Bussey; Noble; Richardson; Hodgson; Swansbury (c); Elliott; Charlton; Wilson; Larkin; Callen; Cassidy.

Jarrow 0 Sunderland RCA 2

Submitted by Simon Mears on Thursday, 13 July 2017
Wednesday, 12 July 2017 - 7:00pm
Friendly

Recent signing Dylan Elliott whips in a cross during the second half of the match. Photograph: Simon Mears.

For more photos from the match please click here.

Goal scorers - RCA: Larkin (2).

Just 48 hours after the excellent victory at home to Sunderland AFC under 23s, and Sunderland RCA were back in action with a friendly trip to newly-promoted Jarrow.

Jarrow are now just a few short weeks away from beginning their inaugural season in the Northern League, after winning the Wearside League last season with an impressive 91 points - winning 29 and losing just 5 of their 38 games.

The two sides lined up as follows:

Jarrow: Frater; Smith; Mellish; Bone; Little; Allen; Hirst; Pressling; Allan; Kane; Trialist.

RCA: Peccolo; Noble; McGuinness; Hodgson; Swansbury (c); Armstrong; Charlton; Wilson; Larkin; Mensah; Cassidy.

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