Sunderland RCA 2 Gateshead Leam Rangers 1 (AET)

Under 18s County Cup

28 February 2009

A good crowd on Saturday for SRCA U18s most important fixture to date and all at the club were prepared for a very hard test against high flying and formidable opposition in Gateshead Leam Rangers. Although the squad was boosted with the return of goalkeeper Ryan Graham and central defender Anthony Ashman back from County duty, bad pre-match news was received when midfield club captain Chris Bailey was made unavailable due to a serious work injury the previous day. However SRCA were lifted by the team captain's presence in the dug out after release from hospital on the Saturday morning. Alan Tench took up the vacant place in midfield instead of his normal position at sweeper.

Ashman took the captain's armband and it was Gateshead who won the toss electing to defend against the slope and medium breeze. After kick off, both sides moved the ball around swiftly attempting to gain ground, but the main threat was from long throws towards both penalty boxes. SRCA conceded the first corners and Leam Rangers immediately showed their hand, placing very tall defenders at the back post and attacking in tandem with excellent crosses hit right on the spot. SRCA were conceding height in all areas, but the lads were up to the test and defending well. As the game started to settle the home side were getting more possession with Robinson getting a lot of the ball and Andrews troubling the defenders with his pace and hitting a good effort just wide of the goal after 20 minutes.

The game then really came to life after the half hour when an excellent RCA through ball from midfield split the defence and in a 50-50 race to the ball between Gateshead keeper Ryan Docherty and Lee Andrews, it was the forward who reached the ball first to lift it up and into the top corner of the net from eight yards to score his tenth goal of the season. In a game that was clearly going to be tight, the jubilation from players and the home supporters said it all. However from the kick off Gateshead upped their momentum, winning a corner after a forward barged the ball out of the hand of keeper Graham. The visitors equalising when the cross was headed against the bar and the rebound found number eleven, Adam Thompson, following in to fire off the underside of the bar. After this frenzy the game settled down again as both teams packed the midfield area with SRCA's Page, Hardy and Tench more than holding their own.

In the second half both teams were proving to be well organised and few chances were being created.

Gateshead were still proving dangerous at set pieces while SRCA were attempting to keep the ball down to avoid losing position in aerial challenges. The management had to make an enforced change on 85 minutes when Jordan Hardy had to leave the field (one of the joys of youth football - the midfielder having to leave early to get to work for his part time job. Not joking, but the lad also was to face a work disciplinary today for turning up last week with dirty arms. The management told him to get to work quick and wear a hat and long sleeves if he couldn't find time for the shower. Then the moment of the second half on 90 minutes when substitute Damien Knight from the right played in Lee Andrews on the left, with the keeper and defender in the six yard box, he cracked a shot which the keeper forced out to the same spot; he hit it again from eight yards this time and a lot firmer, past the keeper and the defender spread-eagled in attempting to stop, wedged the ball between his body and the goal-line, the home players celebrated, the ball cleared out for a throw, the ref, right up with play, waved his hands saying no goal and then blew the final whistle. 1 - 1 and extra time to be played. A real dogfight this one, with no-one predicting the outcome.

However SRCA kept their heads and on 98 minutes won a free-kick just inside Leam Rangers half which was crossed in to the front post with aplomb by Mick Nicholson and Knight met it with a firm header into the net giving the keeper no chance. Well, real joy now and the goal really gave SRCA a much needed lift.

The second half of extra time was not for the purists. Gateshead pushing forward, but SRCA refusing to bow down. The back four of Gamble, Dunn, Moon and Ashman (who was battered and bruised) were standing up to everything. Then on 105 minutes the best chance of the game came when Andrews played in Knight on the right racing through from inside our half he only had the keeper to beat, but on attempting to round him pushed the ball too far. The lads kept possession and then unfortunately a great game was spoilt. With RCA keeping possession, a Gateshead defender took exception and threw a haymaker onto Mark Robinson, splitting his eye. Well, uproar now and even more when the ref felt it necessary to send the culprit defender and Robbo from the field. I wish we had video evidence of this one because we have been massively hard done by here. As a team we have not had a booking in our last eight games and only two all season. We are a proper footballing side and will be absolutely gutted to lose a very good player at this stage of the season. Could be going to DFA about the sending off.

The final whistle was blown 2 - 1 to RCA - that's eight straight wins - and we are now in the U18 county cup semi-final draw for the first time. We should be celebrating, but are all subdued.

Team 1 Ryan Graham 2 Anthony Gamble 3 Liam Dunn 4 Marc Moon 5 Anthony Ashman 6 Mick Nicholson 7 Luke Page 8 Alan Tench 9 Lee Andrews 10 Jordon Hardy 11 Mark Robinson
Subs used Damien Knight 88 minutes

Bottom of the league this time last year, the club has moved forward. Now in the next two months can the U18s turn a good season into a great one?