Midweek County Cup Action at RACA

In the first of five successive home games for Albion, on Wednesday evening we welcome Horden Community Welfare in the 1st Round of the Frank Pattison Durham Challenge Cup, the last 32 stage, and our reward for beating Darlington Town in the Preliminary Round. While RACA have never played ‘The Marras’ in any cup competition in our Northern League era, our recent league form against them has been poor with one draw & five defeats against then in the last 6 games, the draw coming at Kingsley Park earlier this season. Horden didn’t play in the preliminary round of this season’s tournament but have some impressive history having won the trophy on five occasions in 1935/36, 1963/64, 1980/81, 1981/82 and 2002/03 albeit as Horden Colliery Welfare. Remarkably, they are on an even better vein of form than us, having just had a twelve match winning run ended with a 1-1 draw with Yarm & Eaglescliffe on Saturday, but have still gone fourteen games unbeaten in league & FA Vase in which they have eliminated two first division sides in Birtley and Kendal. Remember if it’s all square after 90 minutes it goes straight to penalties. This really should be an interesting game with two teams in red hot form so do try & get along the the Oldhaulage Stadium on Wednesday if you can to cheer on the black and blue, kick-off is 7:30pm.