Sunderland RCA 1 Pickering Town 1

Keigan Turns competes for the ball during the second half of the match.

Today we welcome Pickering Town to Sunderland LGV Park for this crucial EBAC Northern League Division I bottom of the table clash.

Pickering have struggled to find their form this season and are currently rooted at the bottom of the table, while RCA are languishing third off bottom (if you deduct the 3 points allotted by the league for playing an ineligible player).

RCA, after their hard fought win against Thornaby, were without Swansbury (Groin), Trewick and Callen (both working) and also Larkin (Holiday). Back into the team came Davis, Brown and Leonard.

The teams lined up as follows:

Sunderland RCA: Wilkinson, Davis, Turns, Goundry, Hodgson ©, Brown, Leonard, Ene, Fenton, Bruton, Pinder: Subs:  Lennox, Chappell, Bowmaker, Robinson (Foster), Younis.

Pickering Town: Hunt, McGuckin, Ward, Mills, Roddam, Poole, Love, Thornton, Dicicco, Brooksby ©, Grist:  Subs: Gilga, Godden, Dawes, Alngohoro, Etherington.

RCA kicked off playing towards the cemetery end of the ground and were straight on the attack with Ene forcing an early if fairly easy save from Hunt.

The home team’s second foray forward resulted in them taking the lead, a cross from the right was partially cleared but the persistence of Ene won the ball back and he laid it off to Pinder who crossed to the near post where Fenton was on hand to head home his first goal for the club.

Fenton almost made it 2-0 minutes later when he broke forward, dribbled his way into the box but his shot was deflected for a corner, Ene took the kick and floated it onto the head of Pinder but the ball fell into the arms of Hunt in the Pickering goal.

The “Pikes” first real attack came when Love picked up the ball on the left, burst down the wing before whipping in a cross which was met by Thornton but his header was well saved by Wilkinson.

A throw in on the right taken by Davis was picked up by Ward but under pressure by Ene and Davis the full back panicked and played the ball across his own 6 yard area where it was picked up by Pinder in acres of space but his shot was brilliantly saved by the advancing Hunt and an opportunity was lost.

RCA were having some success with their throw ins, this time on the left Turns throw was flicked inside by Pinder to Bruton who cleverly switched play to the right finding Leonard on his own the RCA winger took the ball forward before drilling a low shot into the side netting.

Having withstood a fair amount of pressure, the visitors started to string some passes together, and a good move involving Grist and Brooksby was rewarded with a corner on the left, Grist took the corner which was headed well wide of the target and Turns cleared up at the back post.

On the half hour mark the “Pikes” were awarded another corner this time Love took the kick and Poole’s header was superbly saved by Wilkinson palming the ball out and Dicicco following up could only force the ball wide of the post.

RCA responded with a good attacking move, a throw in by Davis was collected by Fenton who squared the ball to Ene, he burst forward but mis-controlled the ball when in a good position and the ball tricked through to hunt.

Two minutes later and Hodgson played the ball out of defence to Bruton who found Leonard on the right, he outpaced his marker before cutting the ball back from the touch line towards Pinder but Roddam intercepted the ball and cleared.

As the game headed towards half time the visitors appealed for a penalty which was rightly waved away by the referee and the player was lucky not to be booked for simulation.

A long ball forward by Roddam was picked up by Dicicco inside the RCA half however he was disposed by Hodgson who moved the ball forward to Fenton only to be clattered from behind by the Pickering player who was rightly booked.

Half time 1 – 0 and all to play for in the second half.

It was a very slow start to the second half with neither team looking to force the pace.

The first real chance of the half did not present itself until the 53rd minute when Bruton played the ball forward to Pinder who picked the ball up on the right edge of the box, cut inside and hit a low shot which in truth never really troubled Hunt.

From the keeper's kick out the ball fell to substitute Alngohoro who slipped the ball past Davis but Hodgson was on hand to put in a strong challenge and clear the ball up filed.

RCA were awarded a freekick 30 yards out, Bruton took the kick quickly to Leonard who squared the ball to Pinder but Poole was alert to the danger and cleared.

With an hour gone the visitors started to came more into the game, a triple substitution seemed to reinvigorate them and they pushed forward looking for an equaliser.

A confident run by Dicicco opened up the RCA defence and luckily for them his low drilled shot was blocked superbly by Goundry to deny a certain goal.

Minutes later and RCA should have increased their lead and fantastic run by Bruton was spotted by Brown who played the ball out to him, Bruton proceeded to cut inside before unleashing a terrific shot which brought out a fantastic save from Hunt diving to his left to palm the ball round the post.

The game was flowing from end to end and within minutes Wilkinson was forced to make a great save from Brooksby.

As the game became fractious and some peculiar refereeing decisions ensued the players of both sides became more and more frustrated resulting in a spate of cautions issued by the referee.

As the game entered the final minutes a good ball into the box by Roddam caused panic in the RCA defence in the box with player’s diving in on tackles and blocking the ball with the result that the referee saw an infringement and awarded a penalty. Grist took the kick sending Wilkinson the wrong way to level the scores at 1-1.

Into injury time and both teams had chances to win the match, Alngohoro had two great chances for Pickering but on both occasions dragged the ball wide of the far post, while at the other end a great through ball found Leonard in acres of space, with Pinder waiting in the centre for a tap in the winger produced a tired cross which was easily cleared.

In the final minute of injury time a speculative cross into the box was met with an overhead kick by Brooksby but the ball flew well wide.

A draw was probably a fair result in the end with both teams guilty of squandering numerous chances. The story of the season for these two teams it would seem. After a terrific start to the match the home supporters would, I’m sure, have expected us to go on a win the game. Unfortunately we do not seem to have the instinct to kill teams off when we are on top.

However a point is better than nothing and sees us in a position where another point will see us safe, if Thornaby win all their remaining games it could come down to the final game of the season.

That game will take place at home on Saturday, 22 April 2023. Kick off 3.00pm