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Report

FT: RACA 5 Sunderland RCA 1
(FA Vase First Qualifying Round)

Albion comfortably dispatched Sunderland RCA for the second time in eight days, this time to book their place in the Second Qualifying Round of the FA Vase. First-half goals from Jack Elliott, Aaron Costello and Charlie Grieveson put RACA firmly in control before Dom Moan’s header gave Sunderland a glimmer of hope just before the interval. Elliott’s second restored the three-goal cushion immediately after the restart before Joe Groves-Forbes completed an emphatic 5-1 victory. Albion will now host Billingham Town in the next round after the Teessiders edged past Crook Town with a stoppage-time winner.

 

Match Report

RACA welcomed Sunderland RCA to The Oldhaulage for the second successive Saturday, this time with FA Vase progression at stake, and it took the hosts just six minutes to stamp their authority on the tie.

Albion were awarded a free-kick on the right which Jack Elliott swung towards the Sunderland penalty area. His curling delivery evaded everyone before finding its way into the top corner of Zach Wilkinson’s net to give Ryton the perfect start.

The visitors’ first effort of note arrived on 24 minutes when Archie Dodds drilled a low shot from distance, but it proved a comfortable gather for Callum Corkhill.

A minute later, Albion should have doubled their advantage. Another dangerous Elliott cross found Louis Anderson at close range, but Wilkinson produced an excellent one-handed save to keep his side in the contest.

The Sunderland goalkeeper came to the rescue again on 35 minutes when Anderson latched onto an Aaron Costello pass, this time Wilkinson denying the RACA number nine with his feet as he continued to search for his first goal of the season.

Costello decided to take matters into his own hands just a minute later. Rhys Hutchinson squared the ball into his path and the striker made no mistake, tapping home to double Albion’s lead.

Things got even better for Ryton three minutes before the interval. Elliott delivered a corner into the heart of the Sunderland box and Charlie Grieveson rose highest to power a header beyond Wilkinson for 3-0, leaving Albion seemingly with one foot in the next round.

Sunderland, however, showed some fight. Dodds fired narrowly wide before Kyle Fryatt forced Corkhill to turn an effort behind for a corner. From the resulting delivery, Dom Moan climbed highest to head home and give the visitors a foothold in the tie just before the break.

HT: RACA 3 Sunderland RCA 1

Any thoughts Sunderland had of mounting a second-half comeback were dealt a significant blow within two minutes of the restart.

Nathan Beesley delivered an excellent cross and Elliott was there to fire home his second of the afternoon, restoring Albion’s three-goal advantage and making it 4-1.

The Wearsiders were not quite finished as an attacking force, though, and Jack Patterson tested Corkhill with a powerful effort on 52 minutes. Fortunately for Ryton, it was straight at the goalkeeper, who gathered safely.

Louis Calvert should have joined the growing list of RACA scorers six minutes later. Picking up a loose ball with only Wilkinson to beat, the substitute looked odds-on to make it five but could only direct a tame effort straight at the Sunderland stopper.

Albion’s fifth eventually arrived on 71 minutes and this time Calvert was the provider. He spun superbly beyond his marker on the left, cut inside and squared the ball across goal to the unmarked Joe Groves-Forbes, who calmly slotted home.

Oliver Bell almost added a sixth with six minutes remaining after being teed up by Calvert, but Patterson was on hand to block his effort and prevent further damage.

Sunderland had one final opportunity to reduce the deficit in stoppage time when they were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area. Callum Guy, who had scored against Albion a week earlier, curled his effort around the wall and towards the corner, only for Corkhill to produce a fine save to preserve the four-goal winning margin.

FT: RACA 5 Sunderland RCA 1

Another convincing victory over Sunderland RCA made it ten goals against the Wearsiders in the space of eight days, with the goals once again shared around the Albion side.

More importantly, RACA’s FA Vase journey continues. Their reward is another home tie, this time against Billingham Town, who squeezed past First Division Crook Town 1-0 courtesy of a stoppage-time winner.

For Sunderland RCA, meanwhile, they will probably be glad to see the back of Albion – until January, at least.

RACA: Corkhill, Beesley, Grieveson, Atkinson, Caygill, Plunkett (Hayton 66), Hutchinson, Groves-Forbes (Bailey 74), Anderson (Lynch 66), Elliott (Bell 62), Costello (Calvert 42). Subs: All used.

Attendance: 95