Sunderland RCA signed off their home campaign for the 2025/26 season with a goalless draw against Tow Law Town at Meadow Park.
Neal Atkinson was the star of the show as he made several impressive saves to ensure a clean sheet and a point for the hosts.
Tow Law finished the game with 10 as Callum Moore was shown a straight red card for pulling down Tafari Nicholas when through on goal.
Mark Forrest and his management team made two changes to the side that secured a famous derby win at Sunderland West End on Easter Monday. Lewis Cocks and Tafari Nicholas returned to the XI in place of Calvin McCarthy and Joe Kitching who were named on the bench.
It was a competitive encounter in Ryhope that was devoid of quality in all honesty.
The Lawyers started the brighter and Joe Bates was proving a handful up top. His low effort on three minutes forced a first save from Atkinson who went on to have a busy afternoon between the sticks.
RCA’s brightest moments often came down the flanks or with direct kicks from Atkinson finding Dennis Knight over the top.
Knight is in tremendous form at the moment, but couldn’t quite find the right opportunity on this occasion. His best chance came in the first half when he peeled off his man following a long pass from Atkinson, but his half volley was straightforward for Niall Frampton to gather.
Will Bennett was the next Tow Law player to take aim at goal, but Atkinson got down well to gather.
Tow Lawk skipper Harvey Walsh missed a trio of big opportunities before the break, with Atkinson denying two. His first was pushed around the post by Atkinson, he shanked the second wide from six yards, and the third looked destined to loop in before the RCA stopper spectacularly palmed over.
The second half started with more of a pep in the RCA step. Callum Guy and Luke Richards threatened down the right, but Jack Patterson and Chris Thompson both failed to make significant contact on low crosses.
Walsh will hope to never face Atkinson again as another effort goalwards, this time a precise header, was clawed away by the goalkeeper.
Both sides were brought to a halt when Bennett went down with a serious injury. An ambulance arrived to take him away and everyone at Sunderland RCA wishes him the very best.
Once the game was back underway, Nicholas broke in behind and Moore felt he needed to bring him down. As he was the last man and Nicholas was through, the referee brandished a red card.
Knight had two efforts from the resulting free-kick, the second a fierce half-volley that flew just wide.
Unfortunately RCA couldn’t capitalise on the man advantage and the spoils were shared.
The lads have just one game left of the 25/26 season as we travel to FC Hartlepool next Saturday. We would like to thank you all for your support this season and we hope to see you back at Meadow Park for the beginning of the 2026/27 campaign.
Sunderland RCA: Atkinson, Richards, Cocks, Dodds, Harwood, Moan, Patterson (McCarthy 85), Thompson, Knight, Guy, Nicholas.
Tow Law Town: Frampton, Moore, Small, Goldsborough, Groves (Robbins 53), Wymer, Bennett (Benjamin 70), Laviolette, Bates, Cleland (Metcalfe 85), Walsh (Wilson 78).