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Report

FT: Billingham Town 1 RACA 0

RACA were unable to carry the momentum from Saturday’s victory into their trip to early trailblazers Billingham Town, going down to a narrow 1-0 defeat on Teesside despite dominating much of the second half. George Wilkinson’s 10th-minute penalty proved the difference on a night when Albion created more than enough opportunities to take something back up the A19.

Match Report

Albion arrived at second-placed Billingham Town on a high following Saturday’s first victory of the season and showed their intent inside the opening minute. Jack Elliott delivered from the flank and Charlie Grieveson met his cross with a powerful header which flew narrowly wide of Theo Webster’s goal.

Despite that promising start, it was the hosts who were handed the opportunity to take the lead after 10 minutes. Chukwuka Unigwe showed his marker a clean pair of heels and raced into the Ryton penalty area, where he was brought down by Callum Corkhill. Referee Leigh Musgrove pointed to the spot and booked the Albion goalkeeper for the challenge.

George Wilkinson stepped up and calmly found the corner, sending Corkhill the wrong way to put Billingham ahead.

Clear-cut chances were at a premium for much of the remainder of the half, although Albion were forced into an early reshuffle when Dylan Lawson made way for Scott Oldfield after just 11 minutes.

Ryton had a golden opportunity to draw level two minutes before the break. Louis Calvert’s cross found the unmarked Albe Fletcher at close range, but his volley sailed over the bar, much to the delight of the home support.

Billingham might then have doubled their advantage in first-half stoppage time when Unigwe sent an excellent ball across the face of the Ryton goal, but fortunately for Albion nobody in blue was able to provide the finishing touch.

HT: Billingham Town 1 RACA 0

Albion began the second half much as they had the first, immediately creating an opening from the flank. This time Oldfield floated a cross into the area which Kyle Atkinson flicked into the path of the unmarked Calvert, but RACA’s leading scorer couldn’t make a clean connection and the ball bounced harmlessly into Webster’s arms.

Ryton were appealing for a penalty moments later when Calvert was clattered by Eddie Ormorod. The striker tumbled into the box, but the offence had taken place just outside and the officials correctly awarded a free-kick. Calvert dusted himself down to take it, but his effort cleared the crossbar.

Albion came within a whisker of equalising on 51 minutes. Another Elliott free-kick caused the mother of all scrambles inside the Billingham area, with Calvert eventually striking the crossbar before sending the rebound over the top, again prompting ironic cheers from an increasingly entertained home support.

The pressure continued. On 64 minutes, a Ryton break saw Calvert release Joe Groves-Forbes down the right and his cross picked out Louis Anderson, but the RACA number nine was unable to keep his effort down.

Four minutes later, Grieveson drove through the heart of the Billingham defence and unleashed a shot which Webster could only parry. The rebound dropped invitingly to Groves-Forbes, but with Tyrese Grundle bearing down on him, the substitute screwed his effort wide.

Still Albion came forward. Fergus Lynch’s 76th-minute corner found Rhys Hutchinson, whose goalbound header was inadvertently blocked by a teammate as the Billingham goal somehow remained intact.

At the other end, the RACA defence were comfortably dealing with what little the league leaders were creating. A tame 78th-minute effort from Billingham’s own Calum Johnston — with Albion’s Callum Johnston still sidelined through injury — was about as threatening as the hosts managed after the interval.

Calvert had one final opportunity to salvage a deserved point six minutes from time, taking advantage of some indecisive Billingham defending, but once again his effort cleared the crossbar.

The equaliser simply would not come and the final whistle confirmed a frustrating defeat for Albion.

FT: Billingham Town 1 RACA 0

Ryton can consider themselves unfortunate to have left Teesside empty-handed after dominating the second half against a Billingham side who now sit three points clear at the top of the table. The result may have been disappointing, but the performance — particularly after the interval — will surely have given the RACA management plenty of encouragement.

RACA: Corkhill, Beesley, Fletcher (Groves-Forbes 50), Grieveson (Lynch 71), Caygill, Plunkett, Lawson (Oldfield 11), Atkinson (Hutchinson 59), Anderson, Elliott (Bell 81), Calvert. Subs: All used.

Attendance: 204