Saturday, 26 February 2011
STL Northern League Division I
Click here for a slideshow of photos from the match
Sunderland RCA twice came from behind to take all three points in this seven goal thriller at the Ironworks Road ground. What a day weather wise with sunshine, rain, hail and snow all combining to make the playing surface difficult to say the least. It was a testament to the ability of both sets of players that they played some good football on a deteriorating pitch.
The game started in frantic fashion with both teams in attacking mode, the first effort came after only two minutes when a through ball from Hewitson found Thompson, but his first time effort sailed wide of the post. RCA responded with a quick counter and Smith was unlucky with an effort that had the keeper scrambling to make the save, a minute later and a cross from Davies found Logan free at the back post but his effort was easily saved.
Tow Law took the lead when a poor clearance was picked up by Hewitson who fired home from 20 yards out.
RCA were level within five minutes when Talbot curled a sweet left foot freekick into the path off Oates who met the the ball perfectly to head home from eight yards out.
As the conditions worsened attractive football was replaced by a midfield battle, and with both teams conceding possession easily it made for an entertaining spectacle for the nuetral.
The Lawyers restored their lead on the half hour when Thompson was left unmarked and unchallenged on the edge of the box and he was able to find the gap between Hoggeth's outstreched hand and the post.
The game continued in this topsy turvy fashion, first one team with the upper hand and then the other. It was no surprise therefore when RCA restored parity from a corner. Robinson, in the Tow Law goal came under pressure from Davies corner and his palmed clearance fell kindly for Beasley to head home from close range.
Tow Law started the second half brightly, but were unable to create anything up front and as RCA weathered the storm in more ways than one they started to dominate, pinning Tow Law back in their own half for long periods.
The introduction of Taylor up front, replacing Logan seemed to do the trick as he skipped past two defenders before crossing, but the ball was cut out by Robinson.
A run and cross by Walton found Smith in the box but his flying header went narrowly wide. The referee for some reason awarded a corner and from this RCA went 3-2 up went the ball fell kindly for Smith in the box and he blasted the ball through a crowd of players into the net.
Taylor's pace was causing Tow Law all sorts of problems and he was unlucky not to score himself when one on one with the keeper he managed to fire wide.
Minutes later and another burst of pace from Taylor took him into space on the left; this time his cross found Walton inside the box and he made no mistake from six yards.
Whether RCA took their foot of the pedal or Tow Law upped their game is uncertain, but the final 15 minutes of this game seemed to be camped in the RCA half with shots raining in from the Lawyer forwards, but not troubling Hoggeth until the final minute of the game when Thompson picked up the ball just outside the box and crashed the ball home past the despairing dive of Hoggeth.
