Sunday, 8 January 2012
Sunderland Sunday League Premier Division
RCA The Barnes returned from the Xmas break to record a comfortable 4-0 victory over Paragon, at Silksworth Welfare Park. RCA had a strong squad available, but plans had to be redrawn when keeper Stoker went down with a back injury during the warm up and midfielder James 'JimBob' Dunn took over the gloves.
Both sides struggled in a disjointed first half, and it was evident players from both teams were somewhat rusty after the break. After no chances of any significance being created for over half an hour the deadlock was broken when Willie Crew broke down the right and was tackled, with the ball about to go out for a corner. However he decided to chase it down and just managed to pull it back for Callum Charlton to volley across the keeper into the top left corner of the net, an excellent finish, to give RCA the half time lead by 1-0.
The second half saw a visible improvement from both sides, but it was RCA who assumed control and they increased their lead after 55 minutes when Richie Jordan opened his season's account with a crisp lefy foot finish from 12 yards following a corner.
RCA went further ahead after 75 minutes when substitute John Turvey followed up his initial shot, which had been parried by the Paragon keeper, to tap home from five yards. By this time RCA were well on top and they finished the job off when Turvey broke down the left wing, got to the byline and produced an inch perfect cross to enable Willie Crew to head home from close range, thus giving a final scoreline of 4-0 to RCA The Barnes.
All in all an excellent performance prior to more strenuous tests ahead, starting with Redhouse CIU FC away next Sunday at Downhill complex.