FA Vase 1st Qualifying Round

DARLINGTON RAILWAY ATHLETIC v SUNDERLAND RCA - 6 September 2014

The FA Vase gets underway today with clubs from step 5 and below taking the first steps to (hopefully) Wembley. So although four of the local teams to follow are excluded, another four from the Northern League Division 2 come into play, including Darlington Railway Athletic at home today to Sunderland RCA of Division 1.

After a poor start to the season Darlington RA have picked up and are unbeaten in five, in contrast Sunderland RCA have yet to record a win, so an upset is a possibility. Brinkburn Road is looking neat and tidy and there is no cricket adjacent today to distract, possibly due to a morning’s rain, but now it’s fine, dry and still, perfect football weather.

It is National Non-league Day and once the clubhouse bar empties there’s about a hundred or so watching, not bad for this level.

The start is error strewn with the bumpy pitch giving the players difficulties, but the RA keeper is the busier, dealing well with it all until he fails to stop a speculative long range effort from RCA captain and full back John Jury. The ball somehow eludes Richardson’s grasp and rolls into the net.

RA hold their own for the rest of the half, managing to test the opposition keeper a couple of times, and go in just the one down. But early in the second half Jury intervenes again, this time crossing from the right to for centre forward Barton to head down and just inside the far post to double the lead.

Ten minutes later an RCA free kick from outside the box strikes an elbow protruding from the defensive wall and a harsh penalty is awarded. Price takes it and confidently scores. The home team do not lose heart and when they are awarded a free kick on the edge of the box, it is struck hard and low. Keeper Carmichael saves only for top scorer Sims, now on as replacement, to tuck in the loose ball, but from an offside position.

A goal then may have made a difference but instead RCA attack and a firm shot from Garry Guyan is well saved by Richardson; however the rebound finds Barton well placed to knock in his second and RCA’s fourth goal. And as the game drifts to its inevitable conclusion Guyan tries his luck again and this time Richardson is slow to react and lets in another.

The upset didn’t materialise and the good win may give Sunderland RCA the season’s lift-off they needed. For Darlington RA their appearance in A Good Cup Run has been full of goals but short lived.

ELSEWHERE

In addition to Darlington Railway Athletic the other three Northern League Division 2 clubs coming in to make thirteen to follow in the Vase are Norton and Stockton Ancients, Thornaby and Billingham Town.

Of these only Billingham Town survived the day, drawing 1-1 at Ryton & Crawcrook. Norton and Stockton Ancients lost 0-3 at Holker Old Boys, and Thornaby went out 1-2 at Birtley Town.

Of the Northern League Division 1 clubs, only Marske United and Newton Aycliffe were obliged to play in this round, and only Marske progress, courtesy of a 2-0 win at Hebburn. Newton Aycliffe’s disappointing 2-3 defeat at Daisy Hill means they exited both Cup and Vase at the earliest rounds.

FA Vase state of play: 7 yet to start, 1 through, 1 replaying, 4 out.