Sunderland RCA came from behind to secure a dramatic 4-2 win at Sunderland West End on Easter Monday.
A West End own goal put RCA ahead early on, but two goals from Zouhair Benali saw the lads behind going into the break.
Dennis Knight made it five goals in his last three games with a second half brace to swing the contest back in RCA’s favour before Alberto Dumba delivered the decisive blow in injury time.
The local derby was a part of the final day of this season’s Northern League hop, and 475 were in attendance to see the teams in action at Ford Hub.
Calvin McCarthy was named in the starting 11 on his return to the club while Jamie Harwood, Dominic Moan and Callum Guy all returned to the side after absence last weekend.
RCA started quickly in South Hylton and took the lead after eight minutes as a well-worked move involving Knight and McCarthy ended with Brad Forster turning beyond his own goalkeeper from the winger’s low ball across goal.
It should’ve been two soon after as Guy swooped in and pinched the ball following a short goal kick. Guy fed in Knight but the man in form couldn’t keep his effort down and fired over the bar.
The visitors were made to rue that opportunity on 14 minutes as a long ball forward from substitute goalkeeper Joe Foalle wasn’t dealt with and the ball fell for Ryly Deeham. His initial effort was blocked before Benali turned in the rebound.
West End had their tails up and by the half hour mark they were ahead. Benali robbed Harwood on half way and showed composure as he raced through, rounded Neal Atkinson, and finished into the empty net.
It was clear that the hosts were keen to extend their lead before the break, and Atkinson’s save denying Benali a hat-trick kept RCA in the contest heading into the second 45.
RCA were forced into an early change and reshuffle in the second half as Moan had to be withdrawn due to injury. Jack Patterson moved over to centre-back, Archie Dodds dropped in at left-back, and substitute Ben Clark came on as a number 10 alongside Joe Kitching and Chris Thompson in midfield.
Despite the alterations, Mark Forrest’s side began to ramp up the pressure after the hour mark. In the space of two minutes a pair of golden chances went begging. First, Guy delivered an excellent cross for Knight but the forward couldn’t divert goalwards.
Shortly afterwards McCarthy drove inside and the ball fell kindly for Luke Richards who saw his goalbound shot brilliantly blocked. It wouldn’t be long before RCA were rewarded for their efforts.
While Clark is a striker by trade, he showed excellent playmaking instincts when RCA drew level with 17 minutes to play.
Richards marauded forward again and found Clark who played a superb ball in-behind for Knight who made no mistake one-on-one to restore parity.
West End almost found a way back in front, but Forster’s header was very well saved by Atkinson following a corner. A minute later, the game turned once again.
The hosts had several men committed forward, so when Knight delicately nipped the ball beyond a defender on halfway he had a clean run on goal. For the second time in six minutes Knight just had the keeper to beat and he found the same bottom corner to send fans and players alike into raptures.
RCA had just over ten minutes to protect their lead, and incredible defensive efforts limited West End to few openings. Jason Newall came on up top and seemed to win every duel and challenge as every player in yellow put their bodies on the line.
Another arrival from the bench was Dumba, clearly a threat on the break. Five minutes into stoppage time the ball was hammered upfield for Dumba to chase, and my word did he chase.
Dumba evaded challenges from two defenders before rounding the goalkeeper and putting the result to bed, sealing a famous three points on derby day.
It was a fantastic return to winning ways, and we look to end our home campaign on a high against Tow Law Town this coming Saturday.
Sunderland West End: Bussey (Foalle 12), Aranda, Hunter, Forster (McCabe 81), Walton, Fowler, Deeham (Clarke 67), Herron, Davis, Robinson, Benali.
Sunderland RCA: Atkinson, Richards, Patterson, Thompson, Harwood, Moan (Clark 47), McCarthy (Dumba 83), Dodds, Knight (Newall 85), Kitching, Guy (Ward 85).