Goals from Louis Calvert and Glenn Caygill weren’t enough as Ryton & Crawcrook Albion were held to a 2-2 draw at Darlington Town on Saturday.
Albion faced Darlington Town for the first time, while on a fine run of three consecutive wins without conceding a goal. The opening period was fairly even, the nearest to trouble either keeper was a 16th minute speculative effort from distance by RACA’s Fergus Lynch which wasn’t far off the target. However it was Darlington who took the lead on 29 minutes when James Beauchamp held up the ball from a Town goal kick before laying it off to Jim Wilson who managed to score from a tightish angle for his third goal of the season. Wilson brought a save out of Ryton keeper Brogan Colquhoun on 33 minutes following a fine solo run through the visitors’ defence, but but while his shot was powerful enough & on target, it was a comfortable stop for Colquhoun. Just when it looked like RACA would be going into the break a goal down, they took full advantage of some sloppy defending from Darlington. Matty Todd intercepted Town keeper Phil Pentony’s clearance, laid the ball off to Declan Bissett who in turn found Daniel Craggs who set up Louis Calvert who fired home an equaliser to ensure it was all square at the break.
RACA started the second half as they finished the first by scoring again in the 47th minute. Matthew Harrison crossed the ball into the Darlington box, but although it was intercepted by a Town defender, unfortunately for him he scuffed his attempted clearance, the ball landing at the feet of Glenn Caygill who just had to slide in to push the ball into the net from close range. The lead only lasted for six minutes though as in the 53rd minute Liam Jarvie scored after Beauchamp laid the ball to him after speeding past the Albion defenders. The hosts were reduced to 10 men on 61 minutes when Ryan Coles was dismissed when the referee adjudged him to be last man when he brought down Calvert following an up and under. However, RACA were unable to make the extra man count although in an action packed stoppage time, Dylan Lawson brought a fine save out of Pentony, there was a strong claim for a Ryton penalty following a possible hand-ball in the box, and there was a mad scramble in the Town penalty area which was finally cleared by the hosts. Albion had to settle for the draw but it’s four unbeaten & the sides cross swords again on Wednesday in the Durham Challenge Cup.
FT DARLINGTON TOWN 2 RACA 2 Attendance 135
RACA- Colquhoun, Skivington (Groves-Forbes 63), Ledger, Lynch, Caygill, Harrison. Craggs (Walker 75), McLeod, Calvert (Lawson 67), Bisset (Mitchell 57), Todd (67 Salim)
ENL Pos: 4th.