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RCA The Barnes 2 Silksworth Paragon 0

Sunday 4 January 2009

RCA The Barnes got back to winning ways with a 2-0 victory in a close fought encounter with Silksworth Paragon.

The match got the go-ahead from referee Gary Hargraves after long deliberation regarding the safety of the players on a half frosted surface, a decision which proved to be correct and credit must be given to both sets of players for producing such a good game on a suspect surface.

Silksworth Paragon started the brighter and kept the ball and control for the first 10 minutes, without ever troubling the RCA defence. RCA came on stronger as the half progressed and following fine interpassing in midfield Andy Place was released through the inside left channel. He drew the keeper and then unselfishly squared for Willie Crew to slot home easily after 20 minutes to give RCA the lead.

RCA continued to press down the slope and a fine cross from the left by Ross Hughes evaded the Paragon centre half. Willie Crew brought the ball down expertly on his chest and volleyed home left footed from 10 yards to extend the RCA lead to 2-0 after 35 minutes.

Defending against the slope in the second half RCA started brightly in a similar vein to Paragon in the first half and had a couple of half chances to kill the game off, but having failed to do so, Paragon then gained more and more control as the half progressed and created a number of opportunities, which were thwarted by some excellent goalkeeping from Chris Errington, ably assisted by resoloute defending from Alan Surtees and man of the match, 16 year old Liam Dunn, who took to playing left side of a back three like a duck to water.

As the final whistle approached it was becoming apparent that it was not going to be Paragon's day and RCA held out to record a welcome victory and get their season back on track after a dissappointing December.

Durham Avec County Sunday Cup - Second Round

Houghton Glendale SCFC 1 RCA The Barnes 0

Sunday 21 December 2008

1-0 down at half time, but controlled most of second half without much penetration and could not find a deserved equaliser.

FA Carlsberg Sunday Cup - Third Round

RCA The Barnes 0 Heywood Irish Centre 4

Sunday 14 December 2008

RCA's run in the F.A. Carlsberg Sunday Cup came to an end with a dissappointing home defeat to Heywood Irish Centre (Huddersfield) by four goals to nil.

The pitch was passed playable by match referee Neil Sharp, but the surface was very wet and would no doubt cause problems for both sides. It was RCA who started the brighter with a Willie Crew header being cleared off the line after five mins and a couple of half chances which were comfotably dealt with by Heywood keeper Ashe. Heywood then began to get a grip and their midfield were winning all the important battles and releasing their extremely fast forwards. After a couple of scares, when centre forward Ashley Flynn latched on to quickly released passes only to be denied by resolute defending and goalkeeping, it was no real surprise when he was again released early to control and round home keeper Errington to slot home for the opener after 20 minutes. His partner in crime, Darren Hennighan, was put through not long after, but was forced wide by Errington and put his effort into the side netting.

It was becoming clear that RCA needed to get to half time only one goal down, so as to re-organise for the second half kicking with the slope, but their hopes were dashed after 35 minutes when, after clearing a corner, Heywood were given the ball back and a cross from the left eluded a static RCA defence and keeper to allow Adam Bell to head in from virtually on the line.

2-0 to Heywood at half time and they probably deserved if the truth be known.

RCA come out determinedly in the second half and pressurised for prolonged periods, but without ever producing the quality needed to breach a resolute Heywood back line. An unfortunate slip by home keeper Errington, whose feet just went from underneath him as he came out to collect a simple through ball under no pressure, presented Darren Hennighan with the simple task of walking the ball into the net and effectively kill the tie after 75 minutes.

RCA stuck to their task until the end but conceded a fourth when Ashley Flynn was again released through the inside right channel to finish with aplomb. Things went totally pear shaped when RCA's Phil Hall was shown an inexplicable red card near the end for something said to the referee.

Never mind though, in the end the best team won and we wish Heywood all the best for the further rounds in the competition, thank them for a sporting contest and hope they enjoyed our hospitality.

Bring it on for next year!!

Ground switch

27 November 2008

The Sunday, 30 November match against Hylton Castle SRM in the Total Sport Challenge Cup - second round will now be played at Meadow Park. The KO is at 10:30 AM and players are to meet at the ground 9:45

Sunderland Sunday League

Silksworth Paragon 4 RCA The Barnes 1

Sunday 23 November 2008

Sunday Secretary Ian Ferguson gives his take on defeat.

Blooming heck, I go away for a weekend and what happens? It all goes pear-shaped.

According to my independent reports, RCA got their noses bloodied by a much more committed and determined Siksworth Paragon on Sunday. RCA apparently forgot that their game is based around hard work and helping each other out, something which was sadly lacking on ths occasion.

Paragon made great efforts to get the match played and were rewarded with an emphatic victory, scoring after half an hour and then crucially increasing the score to 2-0 at half time with a penalty after 43 minutes.

RCA then came out slightly better after half time and clawed their way back into the match when Anthony Teasdale scored after 55 minutes, but RCA then sloppily conceded from a corner five minutes later. To make matters worse Phily Hall had to leave the field with a recurrence of his knee injury after 75 minutes - surgery awaiting in December and we hope he will be back fit by early new year - and with RCA committed to attack they conceded again after 85 minutes to make the final score 4-1 to Silksworth.

Time for a reality check, me thinks, before more difficult games coming up.

FA Carlsberg Sunday Cup

Dawdon CW FC 1 Sunderland RCA The Barnes FC 2

16 November 2008 at Seaham Red Star

RCA The Barnes progressed into the last 32 of the National Sunday FA Cup competition with a hard fought and battling 2-1 victory over a very strong Dawdon CW team at Seaham Red Star's ground on Sunday.

The match took place in almost perfect conditions on an excellent playing surface. RCA started strongly keeping possession early on and gaining confidence. As the half progressed Dawdon began to gain more control and kept the ball whilst not creating any definite openings until RCA keeper Chris Errington had to save smartly from a long range effort. RCA central defenders Curtis and Hall were in excellent form and consistently snuffed out any half chances created by Dawdon, whilst being ably supported by full backs Surtees and Hughes.

After 30 minutes RCA started to get a bit more ball and a good move started down the right flank by Surtees was carried on by Willie Crew who passed the ball across the area to the far corner were Andy Gilbert laid it off for the late arriving Martin Metcalfe to control and strike a perfect low shot into the keeper's right hand corner giving him no chance of saving. 1-0 to RCA.

The rest of the first half ran its course with neither side being able to create any more worthwhile chances, to give a ht score of 1-0 to RCA.

Dawdon started the second half on the front foot and pressurised RCA from the off with the midfield of Metcalfe, Hartley, Teasdale and young Mark Robinson having to put in double shifts to compete with the increasingly dominant Dawdon. Chris Errington then produced another top drawer save after an hour, tipping over a powerfull close range header and again Curtis and Hall had to be at their best to keep the sprightly Dawdon forwards at bay. RCA were now restricted to playing on the break and with Robinson now pushed up front after the substitution of an injured Gilbert by Gary Tyzack, they kept Dawdon's back line on their toes whilst having the odd half chance. However with the increasing pressure the RCA defence were for once found wanting on 83 minutes when a long diagonal ball from right back cleared the right hand side of the RCA back line and Chapman took the ball down expertly on his chest to rifle in from 15 yards: an excellent goal.

RCA then sent on Matty Stevens for Teasdale. The home crowd were expecting Dawdon to carry on and no doubt get a winner, but that was forgetting the indomitable spirit of this young, committed RCA outfit who never know when to quit. On 87 minutes they broke through the inside right channel and top scorer Willie Crew advanced on goal only for the Dawdon keeper to make a good block. However the ball rebounded out to 25 yards from goal in a central position and 16 year old Mark Robinson became the match winner when he picked his spot and stroked the ball home into the top left hand corner of the net despite the efforts of Dawdon's last in line defender.

Durham FA Avec Sunday Cup

RCA The Barnes 5 Harlepool WHTDSOB 1

9 November 2008

RCA The Barnes ensured a place in the Second Round Proper of the Durham FA Avec Sunday Cup - and exemption from the First Round Proper for next season - with a comfortable 5-1 victory over Harlepool WHTDSOB at Greyfields.

Kicking against a strong blustery wind, on a surprisingly good pitch given the overnight rain, RCA opened strongly and established a 2-0 lead after 15 minutes with Willie Crew continuing his recent good form with both goals. Complacency then set in and RCA became negligent with their passing and presented Hartlepool with some decent chances, which thankfully they did not capitalise on initially. The inevitable happened after 35 minutes when Hartlepool took advantage of slack play to reduce the deficit to give a half time score of 2-1 to RCA.

Hartlepool then had a great opportunity to equalise, but Chris Errington in the RCA goal kept them at bay. RCA then got their game back in some sort of shape. Paul Hartley struck a third goal, turning the defence and placing a curling left foot shot into the far corner from the edge of the penalty area in the inside right position. RCA then put on two subs to rest Teasdale and Metcalfe. Within another five minutes Willie Crew completed his hat trick when Errington released a long kick downfield that Andrew Gilbert contested. The ball ran for Willie to round the keeper to make it 4-1. Gilbert was then replaced by recent signing Gary McDonald who struck home number five five minutes before the end, to give a final scoreline of 5-1.

RCA now look forward to their difficult second round tie in the FA Carlsberg Sunday Cup against a strong Dawdon CW outfit at Seaham Red Star's ground next Sunday, the 16 November, with a 1.00 PM KO. Any support would be greatly appreciated. Ten free entry tickets are available on a first come basis and will be available from Colin Wilson next Saturday at RCA's home game against Brandon.

Sunderland Sunday League

RCA The Barnes 2 Myers FC 0

Sunday 2 November 2008

RCA The Barnes overcame Myers FC 2-0 in their third league fixture in a closely fought match at Meadow Park.

Kicking up the slope in the first half, RCA found Myers small nippy forwards a handful for the first 20 minutes and Myers probably should have capitalised, but for some resolute defending and good goalkeeping. RCA then slightly changed formation and started to create chances themselves with Mark Robinson hitting the crossbar and Willie Crew just failing to connect with another good cross from Mark Robinson, who was beginning to cause Myers problems down the left flank.

The best chance for RCA to take the lead was when Willie Crew got free in the inside right channel to force a good blocked save from Myers keeper Ryan Graham with the ball rebounding to an unmarked Andy Gilbert six yards out, but he headed over the bar when it looked easier to score and the half finished 0-0.

The second half saw Myers open strongly again with a good chance falling their way after 50 minutes. But from then on it was RCA who took control and with both wide men, Martin Metcalfe and Mark Robinson finding acres of space they began creating chances, but could not quite finish them off due to good defending and especially some excellent goalkeeping from Ryan Graham in the Myers goal. Eventually though, as the game entered the final ten minutes, RCA made the breakthrough when Martin Metcalfe broke into the box and avoided two desperate challenges only to be felled by the third, resulting in a penalty, which skipper Michael Curtis duly despatched to give RCA the lead.

The game then went end to end until in the final minute Myers were awarded a corner, from which they thought they had equalised when they claimed the ball had crossed the line prior to goalkeeper Chris Errington gathering. While they appealed in vain to the referee Errington released substitute Gary Tyzack down the right wing and he squared to the waiting Willie Crew in the box who slotted home to give a final score of 2-0 to RCA The Barnes, which over the ninety minutes they just about deserved, but credit to a spirited and commited Myers outfit which resuted in an entertaining game.

Durham FA Sunday Cup

South Moor 1 RCA The Barnes 3

Sunday 26 October 2008

RCA The Barnes progressed to the first round proper of the Durham FA Sunday Cup with a scrappy 3-1 victory over South Moor Sports, at a windswept Stanley.

RCA were always in control of the match, without ever reaching the standards of the last few weeks and on a small, bobbly pitch with a strong wind, were made to struggle. Chances were missed in a disjointed first half before Martin Metcalfe pounced on a misplaced pass from a South Moor defender to drill a superb shot into the bottom left hand corner to give RCA a 1-0 half time lead.

Kicking with the wind in the second half, RCA effectively killed the tie within five minutes as Willie Crew continued his scoring form by slotting home goals two and three, to take his tally to 12 from only seven games). The match then became a bit edgy with South Moor putting in some iffy tackles and the referee not doing much about them. Ray Hartley the manager then decided to just get the game done with and used his three allowed substitutes to give Crew, Teasdale and skipper Curtis a rest and see out the remaining time. South Moor applied some pressure and were rewarded for their endeavours with a last minute penalty to give the scoreline 3-1 to RCA.

RCA now travel to Hartlepool WHTOSOB for a First Round Proper tie on Sunday, 9 November.

FA Carlsberg Sunday Cup - First Round

RCA The Barnes 4 Liverpool Lee Jones 0

Sunday 19 October 2008

RCA The Barnes stormed through to the Second Round of the National Sunday FA Cup with a resounding 4-0 victory over the previously unbeaten Liverpool outfit Lee Jones FC.

RCA started the match on the front foot, pressurised from the first minute and were rewarded for their positive start when Martin Metcalfe crossed into a crowded box where Gary Tyzack found space for a powerful header into the bottom left hand corner to give RCA a fifth minute lead. RCA continued in much the same vein with Paul Hartley and Matty Stevens bossing the midfield and creating good chances which were spurned by profligate finishing.

After 30 minutes Matty Stevens chased down a hopeful ball to the left edge of the goal line and sent a curling cross towards goal, which the goalkeeper and his defender conspired to make a mess of, resulting in the defender putting into his own goal to give RCA a 2-0 lead. RCA should have increased this lead before half time, but a couple of decent saves from Lee Jones's keeper kept the score to 2-0.

Lee Jones started the second half with the slope and the wind in their favour and RCA were expecting a tough time of it, but the next goal was going to be the important one and it was RCA who killed the tie when good work down the right hand side from Alan Surtees and Gary Tyzack released Willie Crew through the inside right channel; he then side stepped a defender and cooly slotted home to give RCA a 3-0 lead after 50 minutes.

Lee Jones then applied the first real presure on the home defence, but with Philly Hall and Micky Curtis both standing firm it came to nought, before the best move of the game, which started when RCA worked their way out of their right back corner flag position with quick incisive passing from Surtees and Tyzack. This resulted in Paul Hartley cleverly releasing Wille Crew through on goal and he easily rounded the keeper to slot home - 4-0 to RCA.

Lee Jones then had two players dismissed over the same incident, when their keeper brought down RCA's Martin Metcalfe, who had knocked the ball past him and was through on goal for what would have been RCA's fifth and was correctly shown the red card. A further player showed dissent at this decision and was given his second yellow.

RCA then played out the last 15 minutes avoiding any possible injuries and now look forward to the second round draw and next week's Durham County Sunday Cup match against South Moor Sports in Stanley.

Total Sport Challenge Trophy - First Round

RCA The Barnes 2 Grangetown Florists 1

Sunday, 12 October 2008

RCA The Barnes progressed to the Second Round of the Total Sport Challenge Trophy with a hard earned 2-1 victory against their previously undefeated 'derby' rivals Grangetown Florists.

The first half produced few chances for either side in what was a typically physical match up, with neither side willing to concede ground, RCA Northern League player, Lee Owens had the first chance for Grangetown, but put his effort wide of the post after a cut back from Peter Benson. Then Anthony Teasdale had a good effort well saved after being released by Willie Crew.

After 40 minutes however the deadlock was broken when RCA were awarded a free kick on the left hand corner of the Grangetown box and when the ball was delivered into the six yard box Paul Hartley got the final touch to give RCA the lead. As so often happen though, in tight matches, once a team score the other side always seem to strike back immediately, and this game was no exception, when just about straight from the kick off Grangetown's right back Keith Churchill surged forward well into the RCA half before releasing to the left wing and continued his run into the penalty area to receive the return ball and easily slot home to give a half time score of 1-1.

The second half saw half chances for both sides without ever producing a clear cut chance untill Willie Crew produced a clinical finish after receiving the ball with his back to goal in the inside left position. He turned the defender and sent a curling shot into the net via the far post to regain the lead for RCA.

Grangetown pressed for an equaliser and left gaps at the back which Anthony Teasdale should have exploited to put the tie to bed after being released again by Crew, but RCA comfortably held out to secure the win, which in the end they just about deserved, and now look forward to the visit of Liverpool Lee Jones F.C. next Sunday (19 October) for the first round tie in the FA Carlsberg Sunday Cup, at Meadow Park - 2:00 PM KO.

Super Sundays

Three big weekends are coming up for RCA The Barnes with cup matches against Grangetown Florists - Sunday 12 October, 10:30 AM KO at Meadow Park - Liverpool Lee Jones - Sunday 19 October 2:00 PM KO - at Meadow Park - and then a Durham Sunday Cup match away to South Moor Sports in Stanley on Sunday 26 October 10.30 AM KO.

Sunderland Sunday League

Redhouse WMC FC 1 RCA The Barnes 6

5 October 2008

An understrength (due to Great North Run) RCA The Barnes comfortably got their League season of and running with a 6-1 defeat over Redhouse WMC.

RCA were missing several key players due to their involvement in the Great North Run and had to draft in the ever dependable veteran Joe Clark - 47 years young) at centre half. The first half was fairly scrappy, but RCA turned the game their way with two goals in the final 5 minutes of the half through Andy Gilbert and Willie Crew.

Sunderland Sunday League

Washington Arms FC 0 RCA The Barnes 3

28 September 2008

RCA The Barnes went through to the Third Preliminary Round of the Durham FA Avec Sunday Cup with a comfortable (eventually) 3-0 victory over Durham Sunday League Premier Division Washington Arms at Glebe Welfare ground Washington.

RCA started slowly for the first 10 minutes and then got their passing game going. They should have gone in at half time with the tie won, but wastefull finishing combined with some good goalkeeping kept the score to 1-0 courtesy of a Willie Crew strike after 35 minutes.

RCA then completely dominated the game in the second half without ever producing the effective passing of the first, but still should have put the tie to bed with good chances being wasted by both Willie Crew and Paul Hartley, before substitute Andy Gilbert converted, benefiting from Matin Metcalfe's cut back and a goalkeeping error in the 85th minute. Willie Crew sealed a comprehensive victory in the last minute converting a Ross Hughes cross to give the final scoreline a touch of reality.

Match postponed

15 September 2008

The Sunday 21 September fixture against Myers FC at Meadow Park has been postponed.

Sunderland Sunday League

Humbledon & Plains Farm GI FC 3 RCA The Barnes 2

14 September 2008

RCA The Barnes suffered an undeserved defeat by 3 goals to 2, at the hands of current league champions Humbledon & Plains Farm. The game, played in perfect conditions thankfully, was a closely fought contest with the first half being fairly even apart from one good save from RCA's stand in keeper Lee 'Zico' Austin. The only other chances were half chances which both defences coped with comfotably, until slack play in midfield by RCA resulted in the ball being played out to the Humbledon & Plains forward Gary Shields (an RCA player on Saturdays) who played a perfect ball across the face of goal to present Rob McClean with a free header to give the home side a 1-0 lead. The timing of the goal could not have been worse as half time was blown for straight away.

Worse was to follow within minutes of the restart as a defensive header was deflected to Rob McClean who mishit his attempted volley, which completely fooled the keeper and bobbled into the corner of the net to make it 2-0 to Humbledon & Plains.

RCA heads refused to be bowed though and they got back into the game with a tremendous 25 yard strike from Mark McLeod, which lifted the spirits. Better was to follow as Philip Hall threaded a ball through the inside left channel for Willie Crew to hold off a defender and round the keeper to make it 2-2.

The game was there for the taking now, but it was Humbledon & Plains who came up with the killer third goal with 15 mins left when Joe Holbourn challenged RCA defender Michael Curtis at the far post and both players got to the ball with headers, but the ball then richoched off Holbourn's shoulder and looped over a stranded keeper.

RCA then pressurised the Humbledon & Plains defence for the remaining time but could not get what would have been a deserved equaliser, despite creating a couple of half chances.

All in all a decent contest, which on another day could have been more positive, but congratulations to both sets of players for a sporting match.

Sunderland draw Liverpool in the Cup!

Yes, Liverpool are coming to Meadow Park! Sunderland RCA The Barnes have drawn Liverpool Lee Jones FC in the The FA Carlsberg Sunday Cup. The lick off is at 2:00 PM on Sunday, 19 October, so please come along to support the lads.

Of course, we are in cup action agains before then: in the Second Preliminary Round of Durham FA Sunday Cup we are away to The Washington Arms on Sunday 28 September.

Durham FA Avec Sunday Cup

RCA The Barnes 4 St Johns Chapel 1

31 August 2008

RCA The Barnes finally got their season of and running with a comfortable 4-1 victory over St Johns Chapel, in the Durham FA Avec Sunday Cup Preliminary Round tie.

RCA started strongly kicking down the slope and were rwarded for their dominance after 15 minutes when Willie Crew headed home after good work down the left from Teasdale and Surtees. St Johns then had a spell of possesion which brought about a couple of half chances and a strong appeal for a penalty when RCA keeper Errington went down at a forward's feet.

RCA then picked up the pace and should have added to their score but for some wastefull finishing and a couple of decent saves from the St Johns keeper, but eventually their pressure paid off with industrious midfielder Martin Metcalfe adding a second goal on 35 minutes.

HT 2 - 0

The second half started in similar vein and Metcalfe added a third goal for RCA on 55 minutes to effectively kill the tie, and enable manager Hartley to bring on his three subs.

St. Johns got a consolation goal on 80 minutes when a fiercely struck free kick took a slight deflection to leave keeper Errington stranded, but substitute Ross Hughes struck home from 10 yards minutes later to seal a thoroughly hard working victory and progrees to round 2.

Outstanding displays from Metcalfe, RCA's Phil Hall and Anthony Teasdale auger well for the coming weeks.

Durham FA Sunday Cup

19 August 2008

Sunderland RCA are drawn at home against St John's Chapel FC in the Durham FA Sunday Cup preliminary round. The match kicks off at 10:30 at Meadow Park.

The season kicks off on 17 August

11 August 2008

RCA's Sunday team start the new season with a home fixture against Silksworth Paragon on Sunday 17th August and are looking forward to the coming season competing in the Premier League of the Solex Manufacturing Sunderland Sunday League. They will also be representing RCA in the All England FA Sunday Cup and the Durham FA Sunday Cup, as well as the league's
cup competitions.

The team have also changed their base camp (boozer) back to their spiritual home at The Barnes, after a brief (but nevertheless enjoyable) year at The Wavendon and will be known as Sunderland RCA The Barnes FC for the coming season.

As usual we are very much appreciative of the help and assistance given by RCA's many officials and hope to reward them with a successful campaign.

Match reports will be posted on this site on a regular basis for everyone's information as well as a squad photo and player profiles, which will appear shortly.

If anyone wants to watch any footy on Sunday mornings all support will be welcome and fixtures (+ venues) will also be posted on this site.

Hope to see you along for the games.

Ian 'Fergie' Ferguson
Hon Secretary Sunderland RCA The Barnes FC