A brace from Aaron Costello earned Ryton & Crawcrook Albion a 2-1 victory at Newcastle Benfield on Tuesday night in the first pre-season match ahead of the 2023-24 season.

Costello deservedly headed Albion into the lead at Sam Smith’s Park midway through the first half from a corner. The First Division outfit levelled early in the second period with a lovely finish from No.3 and then threatened to turn things around, but Costello latched onto a Scott Bamborough ball on the halfway line to run free and cooly slot the winner 20 minutes from the end.

Nathan Beckham and Andrew Waugh’s side next travel to nearby Coach Lane to face West Allotment Celtic on Saturday, with kick off scheduled at 2.15pm.