Injury ravaged Albion’s long trek to Barrow in Furness ended as it did twelve seasons ago, being eliminated from the Vase at the first hurdle. A goal in the first half by the impressive Charlie McGladdery & a controversial second half penalty converted by Jamie Hodgson ensured the Cumbrians advanced to host Route One Rovers in the 2nd Qualifying Round leaving RACA to focus on some upcoming tricky league games.
MATCH SUMMARY
RACA made the long trek to Barrow for the first time in 12 years to face North West Counties Football League North (Step 6) side Holker Old Boys. On a pleasant day with a beautiful backdrop, Holker kicking down the slope, created the first chance in the third minute when Jamie Hodgson played a pinpoint cross-field ball to Charlie McGladdery running down the right wing. McGladdery cut in, beat a defender then fired a low drive that Albion keeper Callum Corkhill blocked with his legs. RACA’s response was a defence splitting ball from Dan Ord up the field to Louis Calvert who just got the better of his marker but his shot on goal was an easy gather for Cobs keeper Matthew Bailey. Calvert was back in the thick of it seconds later when Davie Luke blocked a Holker clearance, the ball falling to Declan Bisset who teed up Calvert but he could only fire his shot wide. The host created their next chance in the 14th minute when two Lukes combined, Luke Davey swung in a corner while Luke Mitchell muscled his way to create space for himself in the box but was ultimately disappointed when he nodded his header wide of the Ryton goal. Davey assisted with the next chance for the Old Boys when he played in McGladdery who sprinted past several Ryton defenders only to trundle his shot wide after doing all the hard work. The half hour point saw the closest either side had come to scoring when Holker were awarded a free kick which Jamie Hodgson curled past the three man wall, the ball crashing off the post to the relief of the Albion contingent among the 112 spectators. Nine minutes later & the Cumbrians got the goal their play probably deserved, A Hodgson corner ball landed on the heads of both Mitchell and Josh Woodend before McGladdery nodded home from close range. On the stroke of half time, Davey broke away and tied to lob Corkhill to double his side’s advantage, but his effort was too high & Holker had to settle for a single goal lead.
HT Holker Old Boys 1 RACA 0
The second half saw a more competitive Ryton side enjoying more possession and time in the Holker half without ever threatening Bailey’s goal too much. Bisset struck a decent free kick that wasn’t too far off target in the 70th minute, while at the other end Brandon Collins struck a decent shot from distance though Corkhill stopped that one easily enough. Referee Jack Hargreaves became the central figure in the 76th minute when he awarded a penalty to the hosts when Kurtis Dodds was rather harshly penalised when challenging McGladdery in the box. Once the protestations from the Ryton players subsided, Jamie Hodgson unruffled by the kerfuffle calmly struck the ball out of Corkhill’s reach to put one foot in the next round. Albion plugged on without really looking like getting a goal back & had the further worry of seeing Calvert struggling with an injury to add to the medical woes for manager Nathan Beckham. Holker Old Boys progress to host Route One Rovers in the 2nd Qualifying Round.
Despite the defeat, all connected with RACA seemed to enjoy their day at Rakesmoor Lane with Holker Old Boys being the perfect hosts, but the focus now switches to Alnwick Town on Wednesday night.
FT HOLKER OLD BOYS 2 RACA 0 Attendance 112
RACA – Corkhill, Fletcher, Skivington (Adotey 45), Lynch, D Ord, Dodds, Luke, Salkeld, Calvert (Cairns 89), Bisset, Groves-Forbes. Substitutes Not Used- White, Caygill, Bailey
SATURDAY’S DIVISION 2 RESULTS
Boldon CA 2 (Purvis 2) Billingham Town 1 (Thompson)
FC Hartlepool 3 (Bayes, McGee 2) AFC Newbiggin 0
Sunderland West End 2 (Davis, Forster) Billingham Town 1 (Stares)
Tow Law Town 1 (Dominick) Jarrow 1 (Karim)
SATURDAY’S VASE 1st Qualifying Round Results Involving Division 2 Clubs
Darlington Town 0 Whitley Bay 4
Esh Winning 1 (Harland) Easington Colliery 4
Garstang 2 Prudhoe YC 0
Grangetown BC 1 (McCowie) Leeds UFCA 0
Nelson 4 Alnwick Town 1 (Anderson)
Padiham 2 Sunderland RCA 2 (Richardson, Guy) Padiham win on penalties
Park View 2 (Mallinson, Gallagher) Steeton 0
Seaham Red Star 0 Colne 1
Shildon 8 Durham United 1 (Boothroyd)
Thornton Cleveleys 2 Chester le Street Town 1 (Nelson)
West Auckland 2 Redcar Town 3 (Harrison, Robinson-Coley, Watt)
Yarm & Eaglescliffe 2 (Gnaglo, Atkinson) Newcastle University 0