FC Hartlepool vs Sunderland RCA

FC Hartlepool Seal Playoff Spot with Dominant Win Over Sunderland RCA

Dominant display seals playoff place at Grayfields

FC Hartlepool signed off their league campaign in style with a controlled and clinical 3–0 victory over Sunderland RCA, confirming their place in the playoffs.

In front of another strong Grayfields crowd, FC delivered a performance built on patience, quality, and authority — getting the job done when it mattered.

First Half: Appleby Breaks the Deadlock

The hosts started on the front foot, controlling possession and applying steady pressure without overcommitting.

Their breakthrough came seven minutes before the break, when Liam Appleby found the net to give FC a deserved lead.

It was a moment that reflected FC’s persistence — and crucially, it gave them control heading into half-time.

HT: FC Hartlepool 1–0 Sunderland RCA

Second Half: FC Turn Control into Goals

FC continued to dictate the tempo after the restart, managing the game with confidence while limiting RCA’s opportunities.

The advantage was doubled on 64 minutes, when Nathan Bayes struck his 22nd league goal of the season, further strengthening FC’s grip on the game and underlining their attacking threat.

With the result all but secured, FC added a third in the closing moments as Fin Smith fired home on 90 minutes, putting the seal on a dominant performance.

MATCH SUMMERY

FC Hartlepool 3-0 Sunderland RCA
🏟️ Attendance: 187

⚽ 38′ Appleby (FC Hartlepool
⚽ 64′ Bayes (FC Hartlepool)
⚽ 90′ Smith (FC Hartlepool)

Line-Ups

FC Hartlepool:
H Carr, J Rowbotham, O Burrows, T Gavin, S Close, J Daley(c), L Newall, L Green, N Bayes, L Appleby, S Davison

Substitutes:
F Smith (75’’ for Bayes), J Stott (75’ for Davison), J Lamb (78’ for Newall), M Mcgee (75′ for Appleby), A Wood (79′ for Green)

Sunderland RCA:
N Atkinson, L Richards, J Patterson, A Dodds, J Harwood, L Cocks, J Ward, C Thompson(c). D Moan, C Guy, T Nicholas

Substitutes:
D Hodgson, J Newall, A Dumba, K Charlton

⭐ IGOMove Man of the Match

Nathan Bayes

A standout performance from Nathan Bayes, who marked it with his 22nd goal in 36 appearances. Now sitting as the club’s third top goalscorer, it was another massive shift from the striker.

Man of the Match – Sponsored By Igomove

🔴🔵 Thank You for Your Support

A fantastic day at Grayfields celebrating National Non-League Day.

Thank you to the 187 supporters who came down and backed the lads, and a big thank you to all our junior teams who came along to be match day mascots and take part in the halftime penalty shootout — your support makes the difference.

NEXT UP

🔜 Next Up

The league phase is done — now the real business begins.
FC Hartlepool head to Jarrow FC for the Northern League Division Two playoff semi-final, with a place in the final up for grabs.

Get behind the lads and make the trip to Jarrow — your support could make the difference.

🔴🔵 RED & BLUE. SEE IT THROUGH. 🔴🔵