Sunderland RCA’s 25/26 season ended in defeat away to promotion hopefuls FC Hartlepool on Saturday afternoon.
Liam Appleby opened the scoring on 36 minutes for the hosts at Grayfields before second half goals from Nathan Bynes and Fin Smith sealed a fourth place finish for Hartlepool.
Mark Forrest and his coaching team made one change for the final lineup of the campaign as Jackson Ward came into the XI in place of Dennis Knight.
The hosts started on top and almost found an opener with a low ball across the six-yard box on 16 minutes, but Jamie Harwood was on hand to sweep up.
Josh Rowbotham met the resulting corner at the near post and headed narrowly over from close range.
Around the half hour mark RCA put a good move together after Tafari Nicholas wriggled away from a challenge. Neat interchange between the winger, Archie Dodds, and Callum Guy saw the play switched to Ward who couldn’t beat the keeper with a low strike.
The opener arrived nine minutes before the break and it was the former-RCA centre forward who got it. Appleby nodded in from the centre of the box from a let-sided cross.
Last week Neal Atkinson pulled off a string of tremendous saves to ensure RCA left their game against Tow Law with a point.
While the clean sheet was already gone in this contest, the stopper still provided some big moments for his side. The first came on 44 minutes as he palmed over a Tom Gavin strike destined for the top corner.
There was a chance to equalise for the visitors just before the break, and in truth it was RCA’s best of the game. Hartlepool’s backline misjudged Atkinson’s kick forward and Nicholas was away.
He still had plenty of ground to cover under pressure, but he managed to get his shot away and was only denied by a strong Harry Carr save.
After the interval, RCA looked to be playing with a bit more confidence. However, it didn’t result in any clear cut opportunities and FC doubled their lead on 64 minutes. Bays was sent in behind and made no mistake as he rifled in at the near post.
The contest wound down significantly following the goal, but Atkinson did his part to keep the score down with some excellent one-on-one saves.
Kieran Charlton’s return off the bench following a lengthy spell on the sidelines was a very welcome sight midday through the half.
Hartlepool got a deserved third on 90 minutes as Mikey McGee’s flick and half-volley crashed off the post and fell kindly to Smith who rounded off the scoring on the rebound.
RCA ended the EBAC Northern League Division Two season in 14th. It was a disappointing last result, but nobody can deny the progress made at the club this season.
Thank you all for your magnificent support this season and we look forward to welcoming you to Meadow Park for the start of the 26/27 campaign.
FC Hartlepool: Carr, Rowbotham, Burrows, Gavin, Close, Daly, Newall (Lamb 78), Green (Wood 79), Bays (Smith 75), Appleby (McGee 75), Davison (Stott 75).
Sunderland RCA: Atkinson, Richards (Newall 65), Patterson, Dodds, Harwood, Cocks (Charlton 55), Ward (Dumba 55), Thompson (Hodgson 76), Moan, Guy, Nicholas.