Ryton & Crawcrook Albion ended a diffuclt week with a much-needed 3-1 win over Billingham Town at Kingsley Park on Saturday.

Albion came into the game with disappointing back-to-back defeats at Yarm & Eaglescliffe and Chester-le-Street Town and then joint manager Andrew Waugh stepped down by mutual consent, leaving Nathan Beckham back in sole charge.

The home side started strongly but only took the lead on 41 minutes when top-scorer Aaron Costello scored from the spot for his 7th of the season. Kristian Sands then doubled the lead on the stroke of half time

Despite a slow start to the second half, Abubaker Salim added Ryton’s third just after the hour mark to wrap up a convincing win.

RACA were denied a clean sheet when the struggling visitors managed to get a goal back through Joshua Elcoate in stoppage time.

The win moves Ryton up to 11th in the Ebac Northern League Division Two table ahead of the home match against Boldon CA on Wednesday.

Attendance: 175

RACA Man of the Match: Fergus Lynch

RACA: Mooney, Lawson (Dudgeon 24), Groves-Forbes, Sands (Lowery 83), Esdaille, Caygill, Lynch, Craggs (Russell 84), Costello, Hoggins (Hildreth 75), Salim (McLeod 83).

Billingham Town: Swan, Ord, Pilling, Rennison, Frazer, Macleod, Cann, Elcoate, Williams, Dunlavey, Sturdy.