T8's 0 v RCA Grangetown Florists 1

In the 29 years that I have been following the Sunday Cup, I've only seen one game in Nottinghamshire, which was the 2000 final between Albion Sports and Prestige Brighams, which was played at Nottingham Forest’s ground.

Clearly, another visit was overdue and this outstanding 3rd round tie gave me the perfect opportunity to do this. The game was played at Rolls Royce Leisure in Hucknall, which is just around the corner from Hucknall Town’s ground, which staged the 2009 semi-final between Scots Grey and Lakeside Athletic.

 

As we travelled down from Yorkshire, we were surprised to see a covering a snow as we entered Nottinghamshire and the pitch itself also had a light dusting of snow. However, the line markings were clearly visible and the ground was surprisingly soft, so the game was not in doubt.

 

After a cagey opening 10 minutes, the home side began to take the game to their Sunderland based opponents and when T8’s number 10 was brought down in the penalty area on 15 minutes, I was surprised to see the referee not award a penalty,  as it looked a certain foul from where I was stood.

Five minutes later, T8’s laid siege to the RCA goal and three consecutive corners lead to two goal line clearances! Despite the intense pressure, the RCA defence stayed resolute as they somehow managed to keep the home side at bay.

 

T8’s continued to apply the pressure and came close to opening the scoring when their number 10 clipped the post on 28 minutes.

T8’s hit the cross bar just before half time but were unable to convert the rebound and, amazingly, we arrived at half time goalless!

The second half was a much more even affair, as T8’s were unable to sustain their first half dominance and RCA came more in to the game.

With extra time growing ever nearer and the game still scoreless with just 10 minutes remaining, an RCA free kick was superbly headed home by Gary Hills to the utter disbelief of the home side and their supporters.

 

With time running out, T8’s tried their best to get back in to the game but just like their earlier efforts, they were unable to breach their opponent’s defence and it was RCA who progress to round 4, where they will travel to West Yorkshire to play HT Sports.

Whilst I’d never seen T8’s play before, I did watch RCA the previous week and they were clearly not the same side who comfortably dispatched Eden Vale. They certainly missed Martin Metcalfe, whose man of the match performance included scoring the opening goal and providing the two others in a 3-0 win.