Sunderland RCA recorded their fourth successive league draw as they shared the points with Billingham Synthonia at Meadow Park on Friday night.
Tafari Nicholas marked his first start for the club with an early opener from close range before Samuel Irvine equalised for Synthonia on the stroke of half-time.
Both sides had chances to win in it during the second period, but last-ditch defending and wayward finishing meant each side left SR2 with a point a piece.
Mark Forrest made three changes to the side that contested a 1-1 draw against Sunderland West End on Boxing Day.
16-year-old Shay Pye entered the starting XI for his debut after joining from Park View, while Nicholas and Jack Patterson also came into the side.
RCA began the game on the front foot as they looked to apply early pressure on the Synners backline.
Their efforts were rewarded after just eight minutes. Albeit in somewhat unusual circumstances.
Lewis Lukeman’s weighted pass set Nicholas in and the winger unselfishly squared for Pye who was racing into the area.
Pye’s shot was bundled off the line by retreating goalkeeper Will Lawrence, but Nicholas was on hand to tap in and give the hosts the lead.
A corner on 20 minutes almost brought a second as Ryhope continued to control proceedings, but Jamie Harwood’s header was blocked and his follow-up attempt from the ground flashed wide.
As the half went on Synthonia slowly but surely grew into the contest. They went close on the half hour as Harry Healy failed to hit the target when the ball fell kindly after Kieron Watson’s shot was blocked.
It was almost a brace of Nicholas on 45 minutes as Lukeman yet again fed in the lively forward, however Lawrence got down well to save to his right from a first-time effort.
The save proved crucial as just a minute into stoppage time the visitors equalised.
A free-kick from halfway found Irvine with plenty of space in the box. He was denied at first but made no mistake when the ball was fired across the six-yard-box just seconds later as he prodded past Karl Dryden.
The late first-half leveller sparked confidence into Synners as they came out the stronger side at the beginning of the second period.
Dryden had to be alert to save a low Healy shot and Irvine will have wondered how he didn’t have a second when he fluffed a half-volley in acres of space inside the area just before the hour.
Both teams turned to the bench as the game became tense and few on clear-cut opportunities.
Dennis Knight entered the field of play and almost scored in back-to-back games as his left-footed strike from the edge of the area went inches wide with nine minutes remaining.
Another chance went begging on 88 minutes when Lukeman was played in over the top. The attacking midfielder looked to fire across goal from a slightly unfavourable angle and was unlucky not to find the bottom corner.
Suddenly you couldn’t take your eyes off the action as less than a minute later a goalmouth scramble at the other end was cleared.
Synners stopper Lawrence pulled out the highlight of the game a minute into stoppage time as an unorthodox save ensured the game finished level.
After palming away a Lukeman cross destined for the top corner, Lawrence was scrambling back to his line to prevent Taylor Richardson’s looping header from dropping in.
Lawrence leaped and pulled off a dramatic scissor kick on the line to send Synners back down the A19 with a point.
RCA will look to turn recent draws into wins starting at Newcastle University next Saturday.
Sunderland RCA: Dryden, Richards, Patterson, Moan (Thompson 49), Harwood, Charlton, Pye (Knight 68), Dodds, Guy, Lukeman, Nicholas (Richardson 75).
Billingham Synthonia: W. Lawrence, Poole, Connelly (Hodgkinson 85), J. Owen, Waller, Taggart (Dryden 62), Healy, S. Lawrence (Webb 89, Irvine, Watson, A. Owen.
Attendance: 120