Arriving early at Brewery Field it is evident that black & white are the team colours. The ground looks in transition from old and tired to neat and tidy; a 300-seater main stand and fully covered terracing behind one goal face up to crumbling concrete steps and railing posts, but all smartly painted black and white. That covered terrace may come in handy as it is a grey September day with occasional spots of rain.
The squads are doing their warming up drills, as are the referee and assistants, a couple of whom look refreshingly young. The public address is in full steam under the control of a wanabee DJ who regularly interrupts tracks in an attempt to provide banter with the home supporters and players. Usefully, he asks the children to get off the pitch, but the assistant referees carry on with their warm up.
The pitch looks well grassed with a steeper than standard non-league slope. More persistent rain is now falling which should give a good slick surface for two in-form northern league teams. Spennymoor are champions for the last two seasons but RCA have started the better in 2011-12. The teams come out to a familiar Dire Straits theme, Spennymoor in black & white stripes, so it could easily be St James’ Park. Sunderland are in an away strip of day-glo yellow shirts and blue shorts. A minute’s silence, for a recently deceased Sunderland past president, is immaculately observed apart from the burger bar generator that chugs remorselessly throughout.
Spennymoor play down the slope in the first half. Both teams close down their opponents quickly and a competitive ten minutes ensue before a pattern of play develops. Sunderland have two big lads up front and are content to pump diagonal balls in to them. They are a handful for the Spennymoor centre halves, including Steve Foster, last seen marshalling Darlington ’s defence in League 2. Spennymoor’s approach is more subtle, using another ex-Darlo player, Anthony Peacock, to probe to good effect the space behind a very high defensive line.
RCA’s approach draws the first save of the match and then a header narrowly clears the bar; but by the half hour Spennymoor are turning on some stylish football, threatening with a succession of crosses and corners. From one of these a clearance only finds the Spennymoor right back Harwood, who hits a 25 yard screamer into the corner of the net for well merited 1-0 lead.
Further chances accrue as the Sunderland left back is outpaced repeatedly but without damage to the score line. Bizarrely, in a rare foray up field, the same player surges past his tormentor and crosses dangerously. A Spennymoor defender stoops to chest clear but the referee judges it, somewhat harshly, as handball and a penalty. Five minute from half time it is a get out of jail card but the firmly hit kick is well saved by the keeper low to his right.
So half time arrives with Spennymoor deservedly ahead having played the better football; but Sunderland RCA are by no means out of it as their high balls into the goalmouth are a constant threat.
At the opening of the second half RCA press down hill and within 15 minutes have forced a good save and have hit the post with well struck shots. Spennymoor seem to find it harder to play their football uphill, and can no longer keep possession. This leads to a scrappier half with RCA having more of the ball. Their constant probing at the centre of the defence is telling, and they look likely to equalise; but when they do get past Foster and his fellow central defender, they find the keeper well positioned to block all efforts.
By the time the game enters the last ten minutes the RCA storm has been weathered and Spennymoor can again maintain possession and carve out a chance or two of their own without adding to the score. They do however comfortably play out time for a win less deserving than their half time lead, but still sufficient to seal a passage into the first qualifying round.
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