Match reports

Tuesday, 4 November 2014

Durham Challenge Cup 1st Round

Goalscorers: SRCA: Wray, Charlton, Brown; Stockton Town: Stockton;

Stockton Town were the visitors to Meadow Park for tonight's Durham Challenge Cup first round tie. 

Stockton, unbeaten in 22 games thus far this season and running away with the Wearside league, were looking to pit their skills against a Sunderland RCA side, who under new manager Martin Swales, looked to be improving rapidly. Since Martin's appointment RCA have played 10, won six, drawn two and lost two; unfortunately the majority of the won games have been in cup competions like tonight.

The RCA team looked a little experimental with Austin-Wilson in at left back, Brown pushed into midfield/forward role, Armstrong sitting in a holding role, Stanger wide right and Hughes recalled to play as the solitary front man. Both Gary and Lewis Wood were suffering from knocks picked up on Saturday and on the bench we saw the welcome return of Barton after a lengthy period out with an ankle injury and John Jury after missing Saturday's match due to the birth of his son Joel.

Saturday, 1 November 2014

FA Vase 1st Round Proper

Goalscorers: SRCA: Austin-Wilson;  Handsworth: None

RCA welcomed Handsworth Parramore FC of the North East Counties League to Meadow Park for this First Round tie of the FA Vase.

The visitors, like ourselves, have recently changed managers and are in a period of transistion.

With a number of the first team squad missing the manager gave debuts to our two latest signing and brought into the squad club stalwart Wayne Henderson (16 seasons with the club) for his first appearance of the season. Into the team Richardson, replacing Jury (wife due to give birth), Armstrong, for Hughes (working), Coe, for Charlton (Cup tied) other notable absentes were Barton (injured) and Callen (suspended). The team was as follows:

Carmichael, Richardson, Bythway, Brown, Preston, Armstrong, Stanger, Wood L, Coe, Wood G, McNab: Subs: Austin-Wilson, Morris C, Wray, Henderson D, Henderson W.

Terrific Tony. High impact sub Tony Coe returned from injury to score two cracking goals against Newcastle Benfield.

Saturday, 25 October 2014

EBAC Northern League Division 1

Please click here for photos from the match.

Goalscorers: SRCA: Coe (2), Charlton:  Benfield: None

RCA were without a number of players for this important EBAC Northern League match, Barton (Ankle Injury), Callen (Suspension), Wray (Work), Smart and Austin-Wilson (Holidays) were all unavailable for today’s match. In to the team came Lewis Wood, and Ross McNab and there was a welcome return after long term injuries for Tony Coe and Davis Henderson and they, along with Alex Smith, Jack Stanger and Carl Morris occupied the bench.

Newcastle Benfield started the game with the advantage of not only the slope but also the very strong wind which was blowing straight down the pitch. In the early exchanges both teams looked to adapt to the conditions but it appeared that the conditions were winning as the ball seemed to get blown 20 yards further than it was meant to go.

Tuesday, 21 October 2014

EBAC Northern League Division 1

Goalscorers: SRCA: Hughes,   N. Aycliffe: C Winter.

Meadow Park played host to third bottom Newton Aycliffe in this six-pointer, the visitors having suffered a run of six straight defeats while we have lost our last two matches despite playing well.

However with both teams recently securing the services of new managers and new players this was always going to be a close run affair.

Out of the window at half time went the unwritten rule regarding discussing the referee's performance, but that is for a little later.

RCA were forced to make a change up front with Barton unable to play after injuring his ankle in Saturday's defeat and in his place came Hughes on his return from injury. Jordan was also given his first start for the team replacing Lewis Wood in midfield.

RCA captain Gary Wood considers attacking options in the first half of the match.

Saturday, 18 October 2014

EBAC Northern League Division 1

Goalscorers: SRCA: None: Bedlington Terriers: Young, Nellis.

Please click here for some photos from the match.

The games are coming thick and fast at the moment and we seem to be playing all the top teams in the same month, West Auckland (Top), North Shields (4th) and now Bedlington Terriers who are lying in 2nd place in the table.

Bedlington look to be having the sort of season that we had when we finished 4th in the league while we are still trying to get a settled squad.

Once again injury to a key player, Joe Hughes, caused a change in the formation and selection of the team, Wray returned to the centre of defence, Brown was pushed forward into midfield leaving Barton as the only front man in a 4-5-1 formation.

Wednesday, 15 October 2014

Ebac Northern League Division 1

Goalscorers: SRCA: None North Shields FC: Morris, Wrightson, Holmes.

Only one change for this ENL First Divison match against newly promoted and highflying North Shields. Into the team came leading scorer Barton replacing Kyle Morris.

RCA were undeafeated under the new management team of Swaz and Gee, before tonight's match and optimism was high for the run to continue. North Shields have set the first division alight with their start to the season and the fans were expecting an easy three points tonight.

Saturday, 11 October 2014

EBAC Northern League Division 1

Goalscorers:  SRCA: Charlton, Morris, Bythway and Austin-Wilson.

SRCA entertained Crook Town for the second time in seven days and after the closely fought encounter in the FA Vase last week a keen encounter was envisaged for today's match.

Both managers made changes from last week's squads with cup-tied players involved in the two squads.

RCA only made one change from the team that played exceptionally well in the mid week draw against top of the table West Auckland. With Barton unable to make the game due to work commitments, it gave an opportunity for Kyle Morris to step in to the No 9 shirt.