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Sunderland RCA 5 Boldon CA 0

Submitted by Rob Jones on Wednesday, 16 December 2020
Tuesday, 15 December 2020 - 7:30pm
Durham County FA Challenge Cup

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The Covid-19 pandemic has meant an enforced lay off for the team. Our first match since narrowly losing at Consett on the 31 October 2020 saw us up against High flying Wearside League leaders Boldon CA in the Durham Challenge Cup.

A much changed team from the one that faced Consett with six changes to the squad.

The teams lined up as follows:

Sunderland RCA: Dean, Burlace, Allen, Preston, Swansbury ©, Best, Leonard, Elliott, Larkin, Milburn, Carr. Subs: Fairley, Errington, Forster, Dorward, Armstrong.

Boldon CA: Hunter, Nolan, Bell, Attewell, Graham © Williams, McBeth, Wright, Wightman, Collins, Hutchinson. Subs: Strong, Lowe, Gray, Hoey, Graham.

The heavy and persistent rain of recent days had taken its toll on the pitch which, although it looked good, was very soft in places. A testament once again to the ground staff who have worked wonders in preparing the pitch.

Despite not having played for so long, or indeed because of that fact, both teams stated their early intent to attack at every opportunity.

Consett 1 Sunderland RCA 0

Submitted by Rob Jones on Sunday, 1 November 2020
Saturday, 31 October 2020 - 3:00pm
Northern League 1

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RCA travelled to FA Vase finalists Consett on a wet and blustery day for this Ebac Northern League fixture.

After two matches unchanged the management team were forced to make one change for today’s match, with Brad Forster working they brought in midfielder Jonathon Carr and reverted to a 3-5-2 formation. New signing Dale Milburn was on the bench.

The teams lined up as follows:

Consett: Hayes, Metz, Holden, Smith, Purewal, Allen, Orrell, Slocombe, Pearson, L Carr, Cornish. Subs: Jakab, Green, Marriott, Alshabeeb, Lawson

Sunderland RCA: Dean, Burlace, Callaghan, J Carr, Swansbury ©, Best, Leonard, Elliott, O’Neill, Fairley, Callen. Subs: Errington, Marrs, Dorward, Davison, Milburn

Although the rain had stopped prior to kick off there was a strong blustery wind blowing straight down the pitch. Consett took advantage of this in the first half.

Sunderland RCA 5 Guisborough Town 1

Submitted by Rob Jones on Wednesday, 28 October 2020
Tuesday, 27 October 2020 - 7:30pm
Northern League 1

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RCA welcomed visitors Guisborough Town to Sunderland LGV Park for this EBAC Northern League fixture. Guisborough are currently undergoing a period of change under the temporary management of Ex RCA player Gary Wood.

The home team was looking to build on their impressive recent performances and named an unchanged starting eleven.

The teams lined up as follows:

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

Guisborough Town: Steavens, Garbutt 2, Robinson, Wilson, Guru, Marshall, Martin ©, Young, Holdsworth, Garbutt 10, Ward. Subs: Roberts, Yaqub, Marron, Selby, Wood.

Sunderland RCA 3 Northallerton Town 0

Submitted by Rob Jones on Sunday, 25 October 2020
Saturday, 24 October 2020 - 3:00pm
Northern League 1

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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.

Thornaby 2 Sunderland RCA 1

Submitted by Rob Jones on Thursday, 22 October 2020
Wednesday, 21 October 2020 - 7:30pm
Northern League 1

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The team travelled down the A19 for the second visit of the season to Teesdale Park, the previous visit being in the FA Cup when RCA came away with a 2-0 victory.

Events off the field had a dramatic effect on team selection for this fixture with players self isolating, suspensions and injuries causing major disruption to the plans. The management team worked extremely hard to even get a team on the pitch with the last minute signing of Manager Martin Swales to make sure that the club had at least the bare eleven. Some players then being asked to play when not fully fit.

The teams lined up as follows:

Thornaby: Konstantopoulos, Roddam, Flounders, Johnson, Frazer, Poole, Beddon, Kenny, Hutchinson, Hopson ©, Rye. Subs: J Davis, Foley, Bulmer, McGuckin, Walton.

Sunderland RCA: Dean, C Davis, Callaghan, Forster, Swansbury ©, Best, Leonard, Larkin, Fairley, Callen. Subs: Bell, Swales.

A mild night after a turbulent day greeted the two teams onto the pitch.

Hebburn Town 3 Sunderland RCA 2

Submitted by Rob Jones on Sunday, 18 October 2020
Saturday, 17 October 2020 - 3:00pm
Northern League 1

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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.

Newcastle Benfield 4 Sunderland RCA 1

Submitted by Rob Jones on Thursday, 15 October 2020
Wednesday, 14 October 2020 - 7:30pm
Northern League 1

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Sam Smith's Park beckoned for this Ebac Northern League Division 1 clash.

Team selection complicated by the suspensions of O’Neill and Watts, the unavailability of Allen, Armstrong, Carr, Larkin and Davis meant that the formation and selection changed again.

RCA gave a debut in goal to recent signing Keaton Marrs, making it the fourth goalkeeper in four games to play for RCA.

The teams lined up as follows:

Newcastle Benfield: Gordon, Glen-Ravenhill, Parker, Turnbull ©, Varga, Robson, Noble, Slaughter, Brayson, Haley, Salim. Subs: Scott, Slater, Anderson, Cranston, Grant.

Sunderland RCA: Marrs, Forster, Preston, Swansbury ©, Best, Fairley, Elliott, Davison, Callen, Leonard. Subs: Hodgson, Hope, Ward, Larkin, Davis.

Sunderland RCA 2 Shildon 3

Submitted by Rob Jones on Monday, 12 October 2020
Saturday, 10 October 2020 - 3:00pm
The Buildbase FA Vase

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,

Ashington 3 Sunderland RCA 1

Submitted by Rob Jones on Wednesday, 7 October 2020
Tuesday, 6 October 2020 - 7:45pm
Northern League 1

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Ashington was our next away trip up the A1 to play an inform team.

Further Covid problems meant that we were without Dean, Elliott, Callaghan, Griffith and Ward: while missing were Fairley, Hope and Davis adding to the problems was the fact that Errington and Agnew were recalled by their club.

Good news was that Swansbury and Preston were available as were Allen, and Best and all four started tonight.

RCA gave a debut in goal to recent signing Matthew Wilkinson.

The teams lined up as follows:

Ashington: McHugh, Kalthoeber, Gaffney, Emmerson, Coppen ©, Bramley, Taylor, Ross, Harmison, Briggs, Cowburn. Subs: Scott, Slater, Anderson, Cranston, Grant.

Sunderland RCA: Wilkinson, Allen, Carr, Preston, Swansbury ©, Hodgson ©, Leonard, Best, O’Neill, Watts, Callen.

Subs: Davison, Forster, Armstrong, Larkin, Davis.

The start of the match was delayed due to an injury to one of the assistant referees, the referee after consultation agreed to play the game with two officials.

Billingham Town 5 Sunderland RCA 4

Submitted by Rob Jones on Sunday, 4 October 2020
Saturday, 3 October 2020 - 3:00pm
Northern League 1

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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.

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