Seaham Red Star 0 Sunderland RCA 0 (match abandoned)

Mark Davison and Max Allen combine to clear the ball from former RCA midfielder Craig Hennis.

Our final game of 2022 saw us take the short trip to the Independent Utility Advice Arena to play our near neighbours Seaham Red Star in this EBAC Northern League Division I fixture.

Both have recorded excellent wins in the last few weeks, RCA defeating Ashington 2-0 while Seaham Red Star have defeated Newton Aycliffe in both the league 3-1 and the Durham Challenge Cup 2-1.

The management team was forced into making changes due to holidays, work commitments and injuries.

The teams lined up as follows:

Seaham Red Star: Jennison, Patterson, Sayer, Hennis, M Nelson, Donnelly, Lawson, Hailes, Chisholm, Bott ©, Robinson. Subs: O’Neill, Stevens, Taylor, Dart, Harrison.

Sunderland RCA: Marrs, Morris, Charlton ©, Allen, A Nelson, Lawrence, Bennett, Moan, Davison, Annang-Colquhoun, Fryatt. Subs:  Lavery, Richards, Ene, Hunter, Jobling.

After a reasonably mild morning the match kicked off in driving rain and a freezing wind blowing straight down the pitch.

Red Star had the advantage of the wind in the first half and were quickly on the attack with a through ball from Sayer to Chisholm opening up the RCA defence but the Star forward could only steer the ball straight to Marrs.

RCA broke forward through Fryatt who picked up a clearance from Nelson before cutting inside and winning a corner, Charlton took the corner which was punched clear by Jennison and Fryatt was fouled as he retrieved the ball. Bennett took the freekick smashing it into the wall and firing the rebound into the car park behind the goal.

The game became very scrappy as neither team looked settled on the ball and the only worthwhile effort was a lob from 35 yards out by Bott which cleared the crossbar by some margin.

With just over 20 minutes played Marrs was eventually called into action when a cross in from Robinson was hit first time on the volley by Chisholm and the RCA keeper pulled off a superb reaction save to deny the home team.

RCA’s next attacked down the right, Morris feeding the ball to Moan who slipped it out to Fryatt who picked up the ball and ran at the Red Star defence, but his shot was blocked and the ball was picked up by Jennison.

The game degenerated into a niggly affair not helped by the constant whistle blowing of the referee for minor infringements.

Into the final five minutes of a dreary first half and a cross into box by O’Neill caught on the wind and had Marrs scrambling to tip the ball away and Allen was on hand to clear the ball out for a throw in.

Half time arrived and it was clear that there was a problem with the lighting inside the ground as the clubhouse and changing facility was in complete darkness.

Within a matter of five minutes light was restored.

The second half started with a referee convening a meeting in the Red Star half of the pitch where there appeared to be a problem with visibility.

The second half kicked and Red star were quickly on the attack a long ball forward from Hennis found O’Neill who burst forward to the edge of the RCA box but a fantastic covering challenge from Charlton stopped the Red Star striker from finishing off a good move.

RCA took the ball down the other end quickly and a ball into the box by Fryatt was cleared out for a throw in at which point the Assistant Referee called the Referee over and the match was abandoned.

0-0 was the recorded result which obviously will not stand and the match will be replayed at a future date.

So the final game of 2022 pretty much sums up RCA’s year, a dismal start followed by a period of decent play and ending with the lights going out.

It is left for me to say a heartfelt THANK YOU to the Committee, Management team, Sponsors and loyal Supporters of the club (you know who you are) for their time in supporting us through this somewhat difficult year.

Finally I would personally like to send a massive thank you to all the players who have given up so much for this football club in recent weeks, for taking the hit and continuing to put in some fantastic performances under extreme pressure, you might not realise it but it is very much appreciated.

I can assure you that the members of club are working very hard behind the scenes to secure the future of Sunderland RCA.

In the meantime can I wish everyone connected with the club a very Happy and Prosperous 2023.