Match reports

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Sunderland RCA were back on home soil after two unsuccessful away days, despite playing well at Hebburn last Saturday and totally dominating on Wednesday at Thornaby, they came away with zero points.

Today’s visitors are Northallerton Town who have a similar record to ourselves this season.

RCA Management team gave a debut to new signing Dane Burlace who slots in at right back while Nathan O’Neill returns after suspension to claim the No 9 shirt as Martin Swales continues with the 4-4-2 formation which has looked solid in the last two matches.

The teams lined up as follows:

Sunderland RCA: Dean, Burlace, Callaghan, Forster, Swansbury ©, Best, Leonard, Elliott, O’Neill, Fairley, Callen. Subs: Dorward, Marrs, Errington, Armstrong.

Northallerton Town: Dawson, Cheeseman, Jones, Crust, Sheppherd, Bythway, Jackson, Howard, Rae, Stephenson, Risbrough. Subs: Morron, Martin, Snook, Ezard.

Given the amount of rain that had fallen in the last 48 hours, the pitch was in remarkably good condition a testament to the work of our ground staff Dave and George ably assisted by Norman.

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RCA made the short trip to face table topping Hebburn Town in this Ebac Northern League encounter.

The match sees the return of Robbie Dean, Craig Hodgson and Jonathon Carr to the starting eleven.

The teams lined up as follows:

Hebburn Town: Foden, Groves, Lough, Spence, Storey ©, Carson, Armstrong, Martin, Donaghy, Scott, Mason. Subs: Potter, Richardson, Taylor, Purewal, Mullen.

Sunderland RCA: Dean, Forster, Callaghan, Preston, Swansbury ©, Hodgson, Best, Elliott, Davison, Callen, Carr.

Subs: Leonard, Marrs, Dorward, Errington, Bell.

The teams took to the pitch on an overcast day; the overnight rain had made the pitch very heavy which didn’t bode well for entertaining football.

Prior to the game RCA players and management joined the Northeast coastal branch of the CWU in starting their campaign to “Show Racism the Red Card” they were joined by Ex-Sunderland AFC players Gary Bennett and Gordon Armstrong.

On the pitch the RCA management team were left with little option but to give a debut to Paul Griffith as both Robbie Dean (self-isolating) and Matty Atkinson (recalled to Marske United) were unavailable. Callaghan Davison and Fairley replaced Allen, O’Neill and Watts.

The teams lined up as follows:

Sunderland RCA: Grifith, Carr, Callaghan, Preston, Swansbury ©, Hodgson, Leonard, Best, Davison, Fairley, Callen. Subs: Forster, Elliott, Davis, O’Neill, Hope, Dorward, Watts.

Shildon AFC: Newbrook, Heywood, Lavery, Moore, Vaulks, Craggs ©, Liddle, Palmer, Thexton, Posthill, Matthews. Subs: Thompson, Naylor, Mallaburn, Trotter, Moody, Sweet, Bateman,

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We travelled down the A19 to Billingham Town for today’s EBAC Northern League match.

The unavailability of RCA captain Swansbury along with Callaghan and Elliott and the suspended Best meant that the team who were so convincing on Tuesday would need to be changed again.

Hodgson returned in a defensive role while Watts replaced Best in midfield.

It was refreshing to see Mark Davison and Max Allen on the bench, both returning after long spells out through injury.

The teams lined up as follows:

Billingham Town: Bancroft, C McDonald, Osmond, Emms, Carling, Hinchley, C Wilson, Lavan, Baltazar and Bruton. Subs: Dunlavey, James, Dickinson, Joynes and May.

Sunderland RCA: Dean, Davis, Carr, Forster, Hodgson ©, Watts, Leonard, Hope, O’Neill, Callen and Fairley. Subs: Davison, Errington, Allen, Dorward and Armstrong.