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Report

FT: Seaham Red Star 1 RACA 2

Albion made it three league wins on the trot with a hard-earned victory at Seaham Red Star, but they were made to work every inch of the way following Charlie Grieveson’s 72nd-minute dismissal. RACA had looked comfortable with a two-goal advantage courtesy of Grieveson’s early opener and a Louis Calvert penalty immediately after the break, but the complexion of the game changed completely when the goalscorer received a second yellow card. Within a minute Kai Charlton had pulled one back and, with their tails suddenly up, Red Star threw everything at the ten men. What followed was a classic rearguard action as Albion put bodies on the line to repel wave after wave of Seaham attacks and secure another valuable three points.

Match Report

Albion travelled to the Alexandra Steakhouse Stadium for their eighth league fixture of the season buoyed by Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Chester-le-Street Town, a result which had lifted them into 10th place.

With confidence growing after successive league victories, Ryton were looking to continue their climb up the table – and once again they made a flying start.

With seven minutes played, Louis Calvert was fouled from behind to earn RACA a free-kick. Nathan Beesley took responsibility and floated an inviting delivery over the Seaham defence towards the back post, where Charlie Grieveson had timed his run perfectly to steer the ball home.

It was another goal for the defender, who continued his remarkable early-season scoring form, and gave Albion the ideal start.

Seaham responded quickly and came close to levelling when some neat football down the left allowed Leonard to deliver into the penalty area, but the resulting header flew narrowly wide.

After a frantic opening, the game began to settle as both sides found their rhythm. The hosts pressed high in search of an equaliser and Lines tried his luck from distance, sending a powerful effort just over Callum Corkhill’s crossbar.

Seaham increasingly enjoyed the better of the attacking play as the half progressed, forcing Ryton onto the defensive for spells, but Albion continued to carry a threat of their own.

Albe Fletcher released Calvert as the interval approached and the striker got a shot away, only for Joseph Hood to react sharply and make the save.

The final 20 minutes of the half saw Red Star create a number of openings, but the RACA defence stood firm and Grieveson’s early strike remained the difference at the break.

HT: Seaham Red Star 0 RACA 1

If Albion had started the first half quickly, they began the second even faster.

Within seconds of the restart, a challenge involving Joe Groves-Forbes and Calvert resulted in the referee pointing to the penalty spot. Calvert stepped up and confidently dispatched the spot-kick into the corner beyond Hood to double Ryton’s advantage.

At 2-0, Albion appeared to have taken firm control of proceedings and looked increasingly well placed to collect another three points on the road.

That all changed in the 72nd minute.

Grieveson, scorer of the opening goal, was shown a second yellow card and RACA were reduced to ten men with almost 20 minutes still to negotiate.

Seaham sensed their opportunity and took barely a minute to capitalise. A long throw into the Albion penalty area eventually found its way back to Lawson, whose cross picked out Kai Charlton. His header travelled across goal and beyond Corkhill to halve the deficit.

Suddenly, a game which had appeared relatively comfortable for Ryton became anything but.

With the extra man and momentum firmly behind them, Red Star poured forward in search of an equaliser. Albion were forced deeper and deeper as the hosts launched a relentless series of attacks towards Corkhill’s goal.

What followed was a superb defensive effort from the ten men. Crosses, shots and loose balls were met by yellow shirts as the RACA defence threw bodies in the way of everything Seaham could muster.

There was little respite as Red Star continued to apply the pressure, but Albion refused to buckle. Every clearance and every block took them another few seconds closer to the finishing line.

Eventually the whistle came, bringing relief for Ryton and confirming another excellent three points on the road.

FT: Seaham Red Star 1 RACA 2

It was a victory displaying two very different sides of Albion. For more than an hour they had looked composed and in control, establishing a deserved two-goal advantage, but Grieveson’s dismissal transformed the contest.

From then on it became about resilience, determination and defending the lead at all costs – and RACA passed that test.

Three successive league victories have lifted Albion to seventh place, with a game in hand on some of those around them. Attention now turns to Saturday when Stokesley SC visit The Oldhaulage, with Ryton looking to make it four league wins on the bounce.

RACA: Corkhill, Beesley, Oldfield, Grieveson, Caygill, Plunkett, Fletcher (Bailey 78), Atkinson, Calvert (Bell 81), Hutchinson (Bewley 60), Groves-Forbes (Gascoigne 89). Unused substitute: Ajavon.

Attendance: 155