Ryton & Crawcrook Albion are still searching for their first points of the Ebac Northern League Division Two season after going down to a disappointing 3-1 defeat at FC Hartlepool on Saturday.

After a mostly even first half in which Adam Mooney made two brilliant saves for RACA, the newly-promoted hosts went ahead just three minutes into the second period when captain Dean Cope headed in from a corner.

Phillip Angus then doubled FC’s lead eight minutes later – and while Lee Waugh reduced the arrears a minute after that from the penalty spot – Angus immediately responded with his second to condemn Albion to consecutive defeats to start the new season.

Nathan Beckham and Andrew Waugh’s side – who lost 1-0 to Horden CW on the opening day – now have back-to-back home games coming up this week with Chester-le-Street United visiting Crawcrook on Wednesday and Sunderland West End then following 48 hours later.

Attendance: 207.

RACA Man of the Match: Adam Mooney.

FC Hartlepool: Simpson, Burrows, Naylor, Eavin, Cope, Ball, Angus, Daley, Henderson, Smith, Spalding.

RACA: Mooney, Groves-Forbes, Senior (Hoggins 74), Esdaille, Williams (Hildreth 74), Caygill (Ardley 46), Bamborough, Waugh, Costello, Skivington (Smith 74), McLeod (Lawson 46).