Dunston UTS 2 Sunderland RCA 2

10th March 2015
EBAC Northern League Division 1
Dunston UTS  2 Sunderland RCA 2

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Dunston welcomed Sunderland RCA to the UTS Stadium for the EBAC Northern League Division 1 game.  Dunston failed to score last Saturday at Whitley Bay and came away without any points after a defensive error allowed a Bay substitute to score past a diving Connell for the only goal of the game. This defeat was not to detrimental to the Dunston league position as the top six sides in the league only managed two points between them although Jarrow Roofing in 7th position did win and moved above Dunston as a result. Sunderland RCA are currently in 20th place in the league although due pitch issues they have games in hand on the teams above them.

The Sunderland side have also being reorganising their squad recently. Dunston are without the suspended David Coulson and Michael Dixon although they welcome the return of Luke Gilhespy who served his ban in the last game but with injuries to Andy Bulford and work commitments of Stephen Harrison, Billy Irwin has had to shuffle his squad again for the game.

 In a fairly platonic first half Dunston started on top but did not apply the finishing touches however on 3 Minutes McAndrew had a soft shot saved by Carmichael, then on 4 McAndrew blazed a shot over the bar only to be ruled offside. RCA worked their Way into the game and on 5 Connell collected a Hughes shot and on 10 Hughes missed the target with a shot after driving himself into the box. On 15 Burrell had a free kick parried by Carmichael and after the ball fell to Ormston who drove a low cross across the face of the goal but no Dunston Player was on hand to convert.

 

On 17 Wilson drove a ball across the goal from the by line passing Carmichael and a defender was unable to direct the ball anywhere but into the goal for 1 – 0 to Dunston. Instead of Dunston taking advantage of their lead it was RCA who created the best chances, on 25 a Larkin free kick was saved by Connell, a minute later Larkin was fed in by Armstrong but shot wide, on 32 Brown put in a shot which Connell collected on the second attempt and then before half time Hughes had an initial shot blocked by Connell but his second attempt went across the goal and past the far post.

 Half Time Score 1 – 0

The second half started with RCA on the attack  on 48 Hughes shot was headed clear for a corner by Gilhespy, on 49 Hughes crossed and the ball beat all except Connell who collected. On 50 the swift footed Larkin raced through the Dunston defence went past Connell and the placed his side footed shot in the net off the post despite the flailing efforts of Gilhespy who chased down the slow shot. 1–1 after 50 minutes. 

 

RCA almost doubled their total as Larkin crossed and Rowe poked his shot wide of the near post. On 58 minutes Dan Smith was fouled in the area and the referee immediately awarded a penalty which Burrell hammered home past Carmichael for 2-1 to Dunston. This goal did not however lift Dunston as RCA were awarded a soft free kick 30 yards out from goal, Armstrong for RCA placed his kick high in the top left hand corner of Connells’ goal for a

2–2 scoreline after 61 minutes.

 

Dunston tried to rally and on 66 Wilson headed through to Smith whose shot went wide of the near post. On 69 RCA were awarded another free kick 35 yards out which Armstrong crossed for Hughes to head wide of the far post. On 74 Smith for Dunson won a chase for a ball into the area his driven cross went through to Kane who crossed back to Smith whose header was deflected wide for a corner. On 76 Bulford drove in a low cross and Wilson shot wide of the near post. On 77 Carmichael took a Burrell free kick to alleviate pressure. On 82 Bulford got the ball into the net from a low cross but was ruled offside.

 

0n 86 minutes the ball was played across the Dunston Goal to Bogie who could not control the ball allowing Connell to collect, within a minute  Kane got in a header from a Dunston corner which went right across the goal and past the far post, this was followed by a Smith Header  which went right across the  goal area. RCA were still keen and were breaking quickly so on 88 minutes Hughes went past Gilhespy and shot wide of the target. As the game approached full time Dan Smith headed a ball back across the goal to Bulford who was unable to direct his shot on target.

Full Time Score Dunston 2 Sunderland RCA 2

Full marks for RCA who wanted something out of this game while Duntson played as though they would win any way, how wrong could they have been and but for a fortunate own goal and a penalty Carmichael in the RCA goalwas rarely troubled.

Dunstons Man of the Match: Liam Connell takes the plaudit as no outfield players shone in a fairly low performance game for Dunston

Dunston UTS: Connell, Williams (Harrison 45), Halliday, Burrell (Cpt), Cattanach, Gilhespy, Wightman (Bulford 70) Ormston, Wilson, Smith, McAndrew (Kane 60). Subs not used: Clark, Scorer.

Sunderland RCA: Carmichael, Davis, Jury, Brown, Preston, Wood (Bogie 84), Charlton, Rowe, Larkin, Hughes, Armstrong.   Subs not used: Weldon Callen, Morris, Richardson.

Referee, Lucy May. Assistants, Craig Chatton and Neil Milburn.

Report by T.C.

Next Home Game. EBAC Northern League - Dunston UTS vs Newton Aycliffe on Saturday 14^th March 3:00pm KO