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Sunderland RCA 3 West Auckland 2

Submitted by Rob Jones on Wednesday, 10 August 2016
Tuesday, 9 August 2016 - 7:30pm
Northern League 1
Jonathan Davis in action during RCA's 3 - 2 win against West Auckland. Photograph by Simon Mears.

Jonathan Davis in action during RCA's 3 - 2 win against West Auckland. Photograph by Simon Mears.

​You can find more of Simon Mears' photographs here.

Goal scorers: SRCA: McBryde, Callen, Davis: West Auckland: D Richardson, M Hudson

After the disappointment of Saturday’s FA Cup exit at the hands of Penrith, the management team made two changes to the starting eleven, Bussey came in for Harkess who was working and Callen replaced Larkin (knee injury).

Penrith 1 Sunderland RCA 0

Submitted by Rob Jones on Sunday, 7 August 2016
Saturday, 6 August 2016 - 3:00pm
FA Cup
Danni Lay in action during the FA Cup

​New signing Danni Lay in action during the FA Cup Extra Preliminary round match against Penrith. Photograph by Simon Mears.

More of Simon Mears' photographs from the FA Cup match at Penrith can be viewed here.

Goalscorers: SRCA: None,   Penrith: Smith

RCA made the trip across the Pennines to take on Penrith in the Extra Preliminary round of the FA Cup.

Injuries, holidays and work commitments meant that RCA travelled with a very depleted team. Swansbury failed a late fitness test which paved the way for Danni Lay to make his debut for the club. Also making his debut was James Cassidy, while Steven Stewart, Jonathan Davis and Liam McBryde were returning to the club and made the starting eleven.

Sunderland RCA 3 Pickering Town 1

Submitted by Rob Jones on Sunday, 31 July 2016
Saturday, 30 July 2016 - 3:00pm
Friendly
Stephen Callen taking on the Pickering Town defence before scoring one of RCA's three goals. Photograph by Simon Mears

​Stephen Callen taking on the Pickering Town defence before scoring one of RCA's three goals. Photograph by Simon Mears

Goalscorers: SRCA: Stewart, Hughes, Callen

Please click here for Simon Mears' photos from the match.

RCA entertained Pickering Town of the Northern Counties East League for this afternoon's friendly. There was more than a passing interest in this game as the visitors were drawn against our neighbours RCW in the FA Cup Extra Preliminary round next week.

Both teams had selection problems prior to this game. RCA gave fitness tests to five players and all five failed leaving a squad of 12, one of whom was the physio.

However out of adversity came a truly excellent performance from 1 - 12, although the physio's was only a cameo role of eight minutes.

Silksworth CW 3 Sunderland RCA 1

Submitted by Rob Jones on Thursday, 28 July 2016
Wednesday, 27 July 2016 - 7:15pm
Friendly

SRCA goalscorer, Tommy Butler in action in the friendly against Silksworth. Photograph: Simon Mears.

Goalscorers: Silksworth : Moody (2), Muir: SRCA: Butler.

RCA suffered their first defeat of the Pre season when they lost to a very well organised Silksworth team.

With six players missing through injury and work commitments it was always going to be difficult.

RCA went 1 0 down after 17 minutes when a long ball forward was not dealt with and although Harkess saved the initial shot Muir followed up to fire home.

Sunderland RCA 9 HMS Bulwark 0

Submitted by Rob Jones on Thursday, 21 July 2016
Wednesday, 20 July 2016 - 7:45pm
Friendly

James Cassidy in action during the match against HMS Bulwark:  Photograph:  Simon Mears

Goalscorers: Hughes (3), Callen (2), Gordon (2), Wightman, J. Davis

Due to operational problems on board HMS Bulwalk the ship did not dock until after 6.30pm.

Therefore it was great credit to the players, who disembarked and arrived at Durham’s Riverside Complex for 7.45pm and immediately took to the field with little or no preparation.

Richmond Town 1 Sunderland RCA 3

Submitted by Rob Jones on Sunday, 17 July 2016
Saturday, 16 July 2016 - 2:00pm
Friendly

New signing Craig Hodgson in action at Richmond.   Photograph: C/o Simon Mears

Goalscorers: Callen (2), OG

Today saw the start of the build up to the new season with a convincing 3 - 1 win against a decent Richmond team.

There were a few new faces on show today but the nucleus of last year's squad remained.

The first half was fairly short on goalmouth action with only two efforts of any note on target, a Larkin header which was saved by the Richmond keeper and a long range effort from the Richmond No 10 which Bussey turned round the post.

Penrith 0 Sunderland RCA 2

Submitted by Rob Jones on Sunday, 8 May 2016
Saturday, 7 May 2016 - 3:00pm
Northern League 1

Reece Noble makes a clearance. Photograph: Simon Mears.

Goalscorers: Penrith: None SRCA: Hughes, Gordon.

Please click here for Simon Mears' photos.

Photos from John France - @john28france - and Ben France - @BenFrance.

RCA travelled over the Pennines to play Penrith for their final game of the 2015-16 season. The news that Cameron McCulloch would not be able to play due to leg injury was a severe blow to the squad not least because the other on loan keeper Michael Woud had been called up by New Zealand to play in a tournament in Brisbane and was flying to Australia on Saturday morning.

This on top of a mini injury crisis which saw Noble, Armstrong, Proctor and Butler carrying knocks from the Guisborough Town match on Thursday. It is a testament to their character that they made the trip and declared themselves willing to start unlike some others who just didn't make the effort.

Colin Larkin took over management duties in the absence of the manager and assistant manager who had prior commitments.

With no recognised keeper it was refreshing to hear that five players volunteered to put on the keeper's jersey. In the end Larkin went in goal, took the unusual step of putting centre forward Stephen Callen into the centre of defence to partner Ross McNab and Joe Hughes went up front with Luke Proctor.

The Team: Larkin, Noble, Armstrong, Callen, McNab, Butler, Gordon, Charlton, Hughes,Proctor and Graham: with the only fit substitute Callum Charlton although Luke Richardson travelled and made himself available to play if required even though only 70% fit.

Sunderland RCA 0 Guisborough Town 4

Submitted by Rob Jones on Friday, 6 May 2016
Thursday, 5 May 2016 - 7:45pm
Northern League 1

Kevin Gordon clears the ball late in the match. Photograph: Simon Mears.

Goalscorers: SRCA: None Guisboroug: Earl (3), Roddam

Please click here for Simon Mears' photos from the match.

The last home game of the season against Guisborough Town saw RCA make the almost obligatory changes to the team due to injuries and work commitments. In came McCulloch, Hope, Buchanan and Charlton, replacing Woud (heading home to New Zealand for a well-earned rest), Lane, McNab and Larkin (work commitments). A number of these players were carrying knocks and showed great character in pulling on a shirt for the club.

After their shock 1 - 0 defeat against Durham earlier in the week, Guisborough fielded what looked, on paper, like a strong side. The inclusion of two ex RCA players Wood and Carling injected a bit more competitiveness to the match.

Morpeth Town 0 Sunderland RCA 0

Submitted by Rob Jones on Wednesday, 4 May 2016
Monday, 2 May 2016 - 1:00pm
Northern League 1

Michael Charlton comes in for the usual attention. Photograph: Simon Mears.

Goal scorers: None.

Please click here for Simon Mears’ photos from the match.

Sunderland RCA travelled up to Morpeth for their second encounter with Morpeth Town in five days. Although it was overcast and there had been some heavy showers in the morning the pitch looked in remarkably good condition.

Both teams made five changes to their respective teams with RCA bringing in Woud, Armstrong, McNab, Proctor and Butler.

Sunderland RCA 2 Morpeth Town 0

Submitted by Rob Jones on Saturday, 30 April 2016
Thursday, 28 April 2016 - 7:30pm
Northern League 1

Kieran Graham in second half action. Photograph: Simon Mears.

Goalscorers: SRCA: Wightman, Hughes. Morpeth: None

Please click here for photos from the match by Simon Mears.

Sunderland RCA were at home to FA Vase finalists Morpeth Town. This was Morpeth’s third match this week having already played on Monday (won against Washington) and Wednesday (lost against West Auckland) while we had already played against Marske on Tuesday, so both teams fielded changed teams for tonight’s match.

At 5:30pm this match was in doubt as torrential rain and sleet poured down on Meadow Park. The match referee, Mr Barry Gordon arrived to inspect the pitch at 5:45pm and declared it playable. The ground staff are to be applauded for the efforts they made in getting this game on.

The RCA management team had a dilemma defensively with the suspension of Buchanan and the injuries to Richardson and Armstrong and so Byrne was drafted in with Larkin moving from striker to central defence and two wingers, Lane and Gordon taking up defensive full back positions. Hughes and Wightman and McCulloch returned to the team which was as follows: McCulloch, Gordon, Lane, Byrne, Larkin, Noble, Graham, Charlton, Wightman, Hughes and Callen, subs: Butler, Woud and Proctor.

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