Ryhope CW set for their first competitive match in six weeks

Sunderland Ryhope CW are set to play in the FA Vase second round this weekend. 

The Colliery Welfare are set to face Abbey Hey in their first match back on December 12 at home in the Ryhope Recreation Park. 

The club have been restricted from all competitive football since November 3 due to Government guidelines, but they have managed two friendly games this past week to help with their match fitness. 

The FA announced that the Northern Football League will be delayed till at least December 16 but confirmed FA Vase matches will go ahead. 

The FA will review their decision on December 16 to see if league football will still be halted due to tier three lockdown. 

During their FA Vase campaign, Gary Pearsons’s side have a 4-0 win in the second qualifying round to Campion and a 3-0 victory over Penrith in their FA Vase first round tie. 

For this tie with Abbey Hey, Ryhope will be without Danni Lay through suspension and Thomas Scothern who is cup tied after playing for Whickham earlier in the season. 

Their opponent Abbey Hey defeated Hemsworth Miners Welfare FC 3-1 in the first round of the FA Vase to reach to this stage in the competition. 

During an interview after a friendly match with Sunderland East End last night [December 9], manager Gary Pearson said: “I’m happy at the end of the day as it’s a squad that has come back off a long rest. 

“So, the little niggles of most of the lads should have gone away and a couple of knocks from Saturday as well. We will just see what happens from that.” 

If Ryhope advance to the third round of the FA Vase it will be their best performance in the Vase since 2017 where they managed to reach the second round. 

The game is set to be played with no fans due to the North East being placed in tier three lockdown.