10.30am 21 December 2024
North East Christian Fellowship League, Andy Walker Trophy, Quarter Final
Sunderland Samba 3 Bill Quay Community Church 0 (att 10)
Having decided to stay overnight in the north-east after Friday's game at Newbiggin I thought I might struggle for a Saturday morning game, as most minor leagues had began a festive break.
But luckily there was a single tie in one of the North East Christian Fellowship League's cup competitions.
I wasn't sure if it'd also be a goundhopping 'tick'. Sunderland Samba play most games on a school pitch, but as I assume that was unavailable this match was at the Ford Quarry Hub in South Hylton.
I'd previously visited in 2015, for a Sunderland West End game and before the site was transformed into a hub with a trio of 3G pitches. The main pitch is still used by West End, and has been rotated 90 degrees since my visit. Fortunately from my groundhopping perspective, this game was on the adjacent 'pitch two'.
Surprisingly for a Saturday morning game, it remained goalless until well into the second half. That was mostly down to Samba's wayward shooting. Several times they created good opportunities, only for the ball to go high and wide.
Eventually they went in front with about 15 minutes left. Having finally found their range they added two more goals in the final minute, to give them a deserved win and a place in the cup semi-finals.
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