Goal scorer Stephen Callen competes for the ball with former RCA defender Ross Wilkinson.
For more photos from the match please click here.
Goal scorers - Whitley Bay: Brooks; Potter. RCA: Callen.
Tonight, Sunderland RCA made the trip to Whitley Bay for a Brooks Mileson Memorial League Cup Second Round tie.
RCA named an unchanged side from the one that drew at Newcastle Benfield on Saturday.
The two sides lined up as follows:
Whitley Bay: Flynn; Salmon; Walker; Haley; Wilkinson; Summers; Potter; Glen-Ravenhill; Campbell; Brooks; Kempster (c).
RCA: Finch; Noble; Hodgson; McGuinness; Preston (c); Armstrong; Cassidy; Page; O'Neill; Richardson; Callen.
RCA got the match off to a good start, and in the third minute, Callen crossed from the left and the ball was controlled by Cassidy, who fired in a shot that was blocked and deflected behind for a corner. From Armstrong's corner, Callen headed wide. Four minutes later and Haley made a good run through central midfield before playing the ball up to Brooks, whose cross was cleared by the head of Page. In the 11th minute, Bay were awarded a free-kick for a foul on Haley 25 yards from the RCA goal. Glen-Ravenhill curled the free-kick over the crossbar. Bay were now getting to grips with the match and in the 19th minute, Haley fired in a shot from 25 yards just over the crossbar. And one minute later, Kempster made a good run down the inside left channel, and into the penalty area, before driving a shot across goal and out for a goal-kick on the far side.
Midway through the first half and RCA won a free-kick for a foul on Callen 25 yards from goal. Armstrong went for goal but curled his effort just over the top corner of the woodwork. In the 25th minute, a ball up to Brooks was well controlled, before the Bay striker turned well and fired in a super, low shot that was only inches wide of the post. One minute later and Cassidy made a driving run down the right wing before firing in a low cross that was sliced over the crossbar by Glen-Ravenhill for a corner which was cleared. In the 32nd Bay took the lead - Glen-Ravenhill received the ball in midfield before playing in Brooks, who finished well. Three minutes later and RCA won a free-kick for a foul on Page by Wilkinson - Armstrong's free-kick struck the Bay wall and was cleared. Four minutes later and Kempster made a driving run through central midfield before being fouled by Page near the edge of the RCA penalty area - the free-kick was headed behind by Armstrong for a corner which was cleared. In the 40th minute, the home side doubled their lead - Brooks received the ball near the edge of the RCA penalty area before threading a terrific defence-splitting pass in behind McGuinness, and Potter slotted the ball past Finch and into the far corner of the net for a well-worked goal.
Half-time: Whitley Bay 2 Sunderland RCA 0
After being second best for most of the opening half, RCA came out strongly in the second, forcing three successive corners in the early minutes which were all cleared. In the 48th minute, O'Neill fired in a shot from the edge of the penalty area that was comfortable for Flynn. Six minutes later and RCA were close to getting a goal back as first Callen fired in a shot that was blocked and then, from the loose ball, Richardson followed up with a shot that was well saved by Flynn and the ball was hacked clear. In the 55th minute, Craig Hodgson was replaced by Ross McNab. One minute later and Page played a ball up to Callen, who turned just outside the penalty area and fired a shot just wide of the post. Callen wasn't to be denied, however, and two minutes later RCA got back into the match as Richardson played the ball up to Page, who released Callen down the inside left channel, and Callen drove into the penalty area before finishing superbly with a powerful shot.
In the 67th minute, Brooks made a good run through central midfield before playing the ball out to Potter who fired a shot over the crossbar from the right apex of the penalty area. One minute later and James Armstrong was replaced by Jak Ashton. As the match entered the final fifteen minutes, good play by Potter released Brooks but his shot was superbly blocked by Preston for a corner which was cleared. In the 78th minute, Luke Richardson was replaced by Greg Swansbury - after missing the last 14 matches because of a foot injury, it was great to see Greg back on the pitch for RCA. Seconds later and good play by Callen, who played the ball out to the right to Cassidy, who forced a corner as RCA pressed for an equaliser - Ashton's corner was punched behind by Flynn for a subsequent corner in which Ashton played the ball short to Noble whose cross went behind for a goal-kick. In the 83rd minute, a ball upfield was nicely flicked into the path of the overlapping Brooks by Campbell - Brooks drove to the edge of the RCA penalty area before playing the ball out to Potter, whose cross was cleared. Five minutes later, and Preston made a good run forward, playing the ball out to Noble, whose cross was held by Flynn.
A spirited second half performance from RCA tonight, but, ultimately, further disappointment as we suffer a second cup exit on successive Tuesdays.
Tonight's RCA man of the match was chosen by Steven Stewart. Steven picked James Cassidy for his “non stop running, causing them problems throughout the match”. Well played, James!
RCA begin the first of three consecutive home matches on Saturday, 25 November, with a Northern League match against Newton Aycliffe, followed by a talk in with Sunderland AFC legend Gordon Armstrong. Kick-off is at 3pm.