FT BILLINGHAM TOWN 0 RACA 3 Attendance 137
RACA’S late season flourish continued with a 3-0 win at Billingham Town, their best ever result at Bedford Terrace. A first half that had that end of season feel to it sprung into life two minutes before the interval when Ethan Bewley netted his second goal of the season. Morgan Dart made it 2-0 two minutes after half time & a Louis Calvert penalty on 86 minutes wrapped up the points after Town’s Reece Bickerton was red carded. Albion remain in 9th place but can still overtake Alnwick if results go to plan on Saturday in our final league games
MATCH SUMMARY
There wasn’t much hanging on this penultimate league game for both sides & the opening 12 minutes suggested a real end of season mid-table encounter with nothing created until Ryton’s Ethan Bewley received the ball & he swung round and fired it towards the Town goal, bringing a fine save out of George Briggs. Town responded three minutes later when Nzang Ken’s Julian laid a ball to Joel White who ended up in a 1 on 1 with RACA keeper Callum Corkhill, but the visiting goalie just beat him to the loose ball, picking up an injury for his troubles. Albion thought they should be awarded a penalty on 29 minutes when Blues defender Reece Bickerton clumsily clattered into Bewley on the edge of the box but referee Barry Tones awarded only a free kick which came to naught. Bickerton found himself the centre of attention five minutes later when he brought down Louis Calvert with Ryton players claiming he was the last man, but Mr Tones probably correctly, only brandished a yellow card. Albion almost took the lead on 40 minutes when a dink forward from Albe Fletcher landed in the flight path of Morgan Dart & with Billingham defenders looking for the offside flag, Dart hit the post with Briggs beaten. Ryton did take the lead on 41 minutes fron a Callum Johnston corner with Glenn Caygill headed towards goal, eventually Bewley scored from close range despite not hitting the ball cleanly, and with claims that Briggs had been impeded in the build up from both Town players & the home dugout ringing round the ground. Mr Tones was having none of it and the goal stood, Albion taking the 1-0 lead into the interval.
HT Billingham Town 0 RACA 1
Albion came out of the blocks quickly, doubling the advantage on 47 minutes, good work from Calvert out wide saw him float a cross over to the unmarked Dart whose first strike had the sting taken out of it by Briggs, but he slid in to force the ball over the line. Billingham created a chance on 52 minutes when Josh Stiff found Gary Mitchell on the right side of the pitch. Mitchell cut in, beat his marker then played the ball to Kingston Butler but his shot from close range was well wide.
Town came closer on 68 minutes when Butler teed up Storr & his shot just cleared the Ryton bar. Again the Blues created the next chance in the 78th minute, Mitchell finding Marley Casey who brought out a routine save from Corkhill from a difficult shooting angle. Town chances of an unlikely comeback were scuppered on 86 minutes when Bickerton was in trouble again for another clatter into Calvert in the box. This time a penalty was awarded & Bickerton got his marching orders. Calvert slotted the spot lick home for his third penalty success in two games & wrapped up the points for Albion.
FT BILLINGHAM TOWN 0 RACA 3
RACA- Corkhill, Beesley, Oldfield, Bewley (Lawson 48), Caygill (Borley 63), Driver, Fletcher (Skivington 57), Hyde (Bailey 56), Calvert, Johnston (Adotey 68), Dart
Tuesday’s Other Division 2 Results
Boldon CA 4 (Gatehill, Robertson, Cowburn 2) Prudhoe YC 0
Redcar Town 2 (Stares, Carmichael) Yarm & Eaglescliffe 4 (Atkinson 3, Dalton)
Tuesday’s Brooks Mileson League Cup Quarter Final Result
Grangetown BC 0 North Shields 2
Wednesday’s E Armstrong Cup Semi Final Result
Darlington Town 6 (McMahon 2, Coles, Wilson, Brown 2) Jarrow 0
Northumberland Senior Cup Semi Final Result
Heaton Stannington 5 Newcastle University 1 (Morris)
Thursday’s Division 2 Result
Redcar Town 2 (Carmichael 2) Seaham Red Star 1(Appleby)