Competition: Durham Challenge Cup Second Round
Date: Tuesday 22nd November, 2022
Kick-Off: 7:30pm
Entry: £6 Adult, £4 Concession
Ground:Â Sunderland LGV Park, Beechbrook, Ryhope, Sunderland, SR2 0NZ
Stockton Town resume their Durham Challenge Cup campaign tonight when they make the trip to Sunderland RCA.Â
The Anchors come into the game in fine form having won their last four games. It has been perfect response to a minor blip which saw them lose back-to-back games to Dunston and Ponefract in mid-October.
The last win in that run was a 2-0 triumph at Tadcaster Albion on Saturday. Goalkeeper Lewis McDonald, deputising for the injured Callum Roberts, earned the player of the match with a vital penalty save to keep the game goalless early.
A brilliant strike from Liam Cooke followed by a scruffy finish from Captain Adam Nicholson gave Stockton the points.
In the last round of the Durham Challenge Cup, Stockton Town were 4-0 winners over Northern League Division Two side Easington Colliery.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
There have been eleven meetings between Stockton Town and Sunderland RCA in total. Last time the two sides played, Stockton Town were 4-2 winners in the FA Cup First Qualifying Round.
The previous five meetings were:
8th December 2018 – Stockton Town 4-2 Sunderland RCA – Northern League Division One
12th December 2018 – Sunderland RCA 0-1 Stockton Town – Cameron Brooks Mileson Memorial League Cup
4th December 2019 – Stockton Town 2-0 Sunderland RCA – Northern League Division One
8th February 2020 – Sunderland RCA 0-3 Stockton Town – Northern League Division One
15th September 2020 – Sunderland RCA 1-0 Stockton Town – Northern League Division One
4th September 2021- Sunderland RCA 2-4 Stockton Town- Emirates FA Cup First Qualifying Round
FORM GUIDE
Stockton Town: W W W W W
Last Game: Stockton Town 6-0 Sheffield FC
Sunderland RCA: L L L L L
Last Game: West Auckland Town 5-1 Sunderland RCA
THE OPPOSITION
Sunderland RCA are currently 13th in the Northern League Division One with 23 points from their first 20 games of the season.
Since their 6-1 win over Darlington RA in the Durham Challenge Cup First Round they have endured a dismal run of form with six straight league defeats.
On Saturday they went down 5-1 at West Auckland in one of the few games played in the Northern League over the weekend
Striker Davison continues to be the dangerman for RCA and is their current top scorer with eight goals in all competitions. He scored a consolation in Saturday’s defeat to West Auckland
In addition to Davison, RCA have squad littered with Northern League experience. Forward Kyle Fryatt, who is currently on five goals, is currently in his second spell with the Wearsiders after playing at Whitley Bay and Bishop Auckland among others.
There’s also experience from North Shields FA Vase win in 2015 after Denver Morris arrived in the summer.
Other Northern League stalwarts include vastly experienced defender Daryll Hall who played a part in the South Shields renaissance a few years ago.
PRE-MATCH QUOTESÂ
Speaking after the 6-0 win over Sheffield FC, Manager Michael Dunwell said:
“We have a couple of knocks in there, so the team will probably change for Tuesday with a few lads who haven’t had minutes recently.”
Assistant Manager JD Briggs also looked ahead: “It’s a competition that we want do well in. We’ll field a strong squad but will change a few personnel as well.”
