Sunderland RCA manager reflects on defeat at Ashington

Sunderland RCA manager Martin Swales admitted that his side left themselves with too much to do as they fell to a defeat at in-form Ashington.

Midfielder Tom Best handed RCA a perfect start at th eD W Media Stadium when he fired them in front with just five minutes on the clock.

But the game had swung heavily in favour of the Colliers by the time the halftime whistle had been blown after Ben Harmison got them back on level-terms and RCA midfielder Layton Watts was shown a straight red card.

RCA were then reduced to nine men just before the hour-mark when Nathan O’ Neill also saw red and the hosts wasted little time in making their numerical advantage count when Max

Cowburn fired them in front for the first time in the game on 64 minutes.

The former Whickham man went on to double his tally and kill off any hopes of an RCA comeback when he scored with ten minutes remaining as his side claimed a sixth consecutive win in all competitions.

After the game, S wales praised his side’s work-rate and commitment – but conceded that they were always up against it after Watts and O’Neill were dismissed.

He told The Echo: “The red cards haven’t helped at all because we were right in the game up until that point and were giving a good account of ourselves.

“We conceded from a set-piece when Harmison equalised, which isn’t great and that’s something we will have to work on.

“After 60 minutes, you’re chasing the game and it’ s never easy being down to ten men, never mind when you get put down to nine.

“I didn’t see the first red, and I think some referees would have given the second, some wouldn’t.

“Overall, the lads that stayed on the pitch were fantastic.

"They worked really hard for us and we can’t ask any more than that when we didn’t have eleven men out there.

“It’s not ideal because we have a big game at the weekend, but hopefully we will have some players back for that one.”

RCA are back in action on Saturday when they host Northern League Division One rivals Shild on in the FA Vase second qualifying round.