Sunderland RCA suffered their first defeat of the EBAC Northern League Division Two season as they fell to a late free-kick at home to Boldon CA.
Owen Imeson struck first to put RCA into the lead on 23 minutes before Liam Thear’s half-volley restored parity on the stroke of half time.
The game was on a knife-edge as both teams went in search of a winner, but it was Callum Larmouth’s well-placed free-kick with 14 minutes to play that made the difference in-front of a crowd of 215 at Meadow Park.
Mark Forrest and his management team made two changes from the weekend’s win at Durham United. Jake Fowler and Mason Burton replaced Chris Thompson and James McGeorge.
The visitors made a quick start and had RCA on the back foot early doors. A low cross from the right needed stopping from Burton, but the deflection almost became an own goal as the ball ricocheted off the post.
As it looked like momentum was building with Boldon, RCA worked into proceedings and swung the tide.
They were rewarded for their hard work with an excellent opening goal midway through the first half.
Quick interplay from Callum Guy and Luke Richards on the right provided the latter with a shooting opportunity inside the area. Boldon keeper Daniel Gladstone did well to keep the effort out, but Imeson was on hand to turn in his second in as many games.
RCA were ahead and it could’ve been two when Imeson was alert to a ball over the top and beat Gladstone to it outside the area. Imeson was in, but Garon Garside had recovered brilliantly to make a challenge and prevent his side from being two down.
The longer the game went on, the more RCA looked on top. So it was a sickener when the sides went in level at the break.
A ball into the area inside the first minute of stoppage time was smartly nodded down for Thear to hammer in on the half volley.
The second half lacked the frantic energy of the first, but it was clear both sides were only interested in all three points.
Thear was causing trouble anytime he found space on the flanks, while Kyle Fryatt was a constant threat for RCA.
Imeson had another chance to find a second as he benefitted from a Richards cross, but his touch was slightly too loose and Boldon managed to clear.
It ended up as a tale of two free-kicks. One moment, RCA overhit a cross from a good set-piece position, the next Larmouth took full advantage and bent low around the wall to find the corner via the near post.
RCA battled for the remaining quarter of an hour, but to no avail as they fell to defeat in a very spirited contest on Wednesday night. Forrest and his team will look to bounce back as they host Tow Law Town on Saturday afternoon.
Sunderland RCA: L. Charlton, Richards, Ojo (Moan 63), Fowler, Burton, Patterson, Guy (Lukeman 78), Bennett, Imeson, Dodds (McGeorge 80), Fryatt.
Boldon CA: Gladstone, Hughes, Knowles (Harvey 79), Humble (Djalo 63), Devlin, Garside, Larmouth (Whitfield 81), Gateshill, Thear (Bell 86), Page, Robinson (Cowburn 90+3).