RACA made it four wins from five with a comprehensive 5-0 win at Brandon United, with Rhys McLeod netting a hattrick and also seeing his penalty kick saved.

While the full time result looked comfortable enough, up until a minute before half time it was a different story. RACA did lead 1-0 from a 14th minute McLeod goal but the same man saw his 34th minute penalty saved by Liam McGrath. Albion’s distribution throughout the first half was woeful, frequently giving the ball away needlessly, although there were some tenacious and accurate slide tackles going in to recover possession. In addition Brandon had struck the woodwork twice, once from a free kick & the other following a great solo run from Elbasty Ezzeldin. However McLeod’s angled goal just before the interval seemed to be the turning point as starting the second half with a two goal advantage put a spring into the collective Albion step plus presumably whatever was said by the management team during half time. Daniel Craggs got RACA’s third goal on 58 minutes, firing home a free kick from the edge of the box, then a minute later Lucas Lowery-Matondo got his first goal for Ryton to make it 4-0. McLeod completed his hattrick on 65 minutes but the Brandon defence held firm for the rest of the game & RACA were unable to extend the lead but were happy to take three points from a game no-one in the Albion camp expected to go ahead.

FT BRANDON UNITED 0 RACA 5 Attendance 82