Match reports

Photographs from Andy Mitchell are here.

Sunderland RCA entertained West Auckland Town in the fourth meeting between the two teams this season. RCA winning two of the three played so far but notably losing to a last minute goal in the FA Vase.

The teams lined up as follows:    

Sunderland RCA: Pocklington, Howard, Lavery, Preston, Swansbury (C), Hodgson, K Davis, Moan, Davison, O’Neill, McAloon.  

Subs: Page, C Davis, Croft, Lilley, Larkin.                                                       

West Auckland Town FC: Bland, Morris, Price, Cobain (C), Hunter, Colquhoun, Mitchell, Snaith, Dowson, Purewal, Burnicle.                                   

Subs: Dodds, Heggarty, Heaney, Francis, Coulson.

Goalscorers: O.G. (Cobain), Davison.

Luke Page in acrobatic action during the first half of the match.

More photos from the match are here.

Sunderland RCA crashed out of the FA Vase fourth round, after a last minute goal in extra time gave West Auckland the win and progression in the tournament.

Both sides battled throughout the 120 minutes of action, but ultimately a Lewis Dodds tap-in was the difference between the Northern League teams.

RCA had chances throughout to take the lead with Michael Charlton having the best opportunity mid-way through the first half hitting the post when one on one, after a clever flick from Nathan O'Neill played him in.

Equally, Scott Pocklinton was called into action a number of times saving well with his feet early on and tipped a looping cross away from goal later in the half. 

Double scorer Colin Larkin in action during the second half of the match.

For more photos from the match please click here.

West Auckland's match report is here

Connor Lamb's match report is here.

Sunderland RCA entertained West Auckland Town in the Durham Challenge Cup second round. Given the weather conditions and the fact that this was the third home game in 6 days, it was a testament to the dedication of a few ground staff that this match was able to go ahead.

By a strange quirk of fate the next three home matches are against the same opponents, West Auckland Town, so this was being billed as a dress rehearsal for the FA Vase due to be played on 5 January 2019.

RCA made two changes in the line up from Saturday’s win against RCW in came Pocklington and Jury replacing Tsapalos and Elliott. C Davis who was due to play was injured in the warm up and replaced by Jury.

The teams lined up as follows:

Sunderland RCA FC: Pocklington, Jury, McNab, Hodgson, Swansbury (c), Page, Charlton, O’Neill, Davis, Larkin, McAloon. Subs: Lilley, Tsapalos, Moan, Croft.

West Auckland Town FC: Bland, Hegarty, Price, Colquhoun, Hunter, Portas (c), Xydias (Morris, 79′), Francis, Wearmouth (Burnicle, 65′), Purewal, Mitchell. Subs: Cobain, Morris, Bradley, Burnicle, Morris.

Clayton Davis in action during the first half of the match.

For more photos from the match please click here.

For Connor Lamb's match report please click here.

Both managers made changes from the starting eleven from Sataurday, for RCA in came Clayton Davis, McNab,Swansbury and Page. While Stockton brought in Moody and Cossavella.

RCA also made a change to their formation with the management team deciding that a 3-5-2 formation would best counter the midfield threat of Stockton.

The teams lined up as follows:

Sunderland RCA FC: Tsapalos, Hodgson, McNab, Preston, Swansbury ©, Page, C Davis, Elliott, K Davis, Charlton and Howard: Subs: McAloon, Jury, Croft, Larkin and Davison.

Stockton Town FC: Moody, Bulmer, Nicholson ©, Mulligan, Robinson, Cossavella, Woodhouse, Craggs, Roberts, Coleman and Risborough. Subs: Hayes, Garbutt, Stockton, Ward, Arthur.