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Blackhall CW 1 Sunderland RCA 4

Submitted by Owen Haley on Monday, 29 March 2010

Saturday 27th March 2010

Durham County Youth League

The RCA squad was severely depleted today with the withdrawal through injury of the team’s two main forwards Lee Andrews and James Alston. After losing players to Senior football in recent weeks the management team decided to increase numbers and four new players have been brought in to boost a possible title push. 16 year old defender Luke Richardson made his debut at the back with 15 year old Rhys Weir also making a debut start up front. Two other 16 year olds made the bench in forwards James Stephenson and Jordan Dagg.

Both teams opened up intent on attack and long rang efforts were hit at both ends which keepers dealt with well, in particular Matty Baron in goal for the home side denying the visitors a breakthrough. Blackhall in the early stages were belying their low position in the league and made the breakthrough after quarter of an hour, good play in the midfield area saw the ball delivered to the feet of centre forward Chris Hope who 30 yards from goal turned swiftly and pushing the ball forward he then hit an unstoppable screamer right into the top corner. RCA increased the tempo and started to ask the question but could not breach resilient defending. Baron was inspired in goal saving goal bound efforts from Luke Olabode and Ryan Mather. The deserved breakthrough came though after half an hour with good work down the right resulted in a cross to the back post where efforts were blocked on the line, before the ball fell to Kieran Stokoe who drilled in from an acute angle.

RCA had two further chances the first made for himself by Jordan Cook who on receiving the ball with the left full back to beat he flicked into the air then volleyed from 25 yards smacking a great effort against the post. Minutes later Peter Deary and Stokoe worked well down the left and a great delivery was pulled back from the byeline the ball sent across goal finding Rhys Weir who raced in to slot home but could not make full contact and the ball was scrambled clear. Half Time 1 – 1 but more like it in the later stages from RCA.

A draw at this stage of the season would be of little use to RCA and the team set out with clear attacking intent. Several corners and freekicks were won and Blackhall were struggling to make any headway into the RCA half. Baron in goal was having a very impressive game pushing efforts around posts but after forcing a corner away again the ball fell to RCA’s Mather who despatched home to the relief of all concerned. One way traffic after that and Olabode who had previously been denied by great saves finally drilled one that the keeper had no chance with. James Stephenson was introduced after the hour mark and he nearly made an immediate impact beating the offside trap he raced clear but clipped his effort against the bar. Moments later he had the ball in the net but was pulled up for offside. The good play by RCA got further rewards when Rhys Weir was played in and when the keeper advanced he lifted upwards and although the keeper got fingers to the ball, he could not deny the forward a deserved goal on his debut. 4 – 1 to RCA and another 3 points in the bag.

6 straight league wins, with four games to go. A team that had a top 3 finish written off by many in October, now one of 4 that can actually can win the title.