Declan Bisset has joined fellow play off hopefuls Jarrow after leaving the Albion. In his two seasons he started 36 games, came on as a substitute 8 times & scored 7 goals, one goal last season when he came on as a sub against Darlington Town & his six this season were one against the University, a brace against AFC Newbiggin and a hattrick against Esh Winning. We wish Declan good fortune at his new club.
FT RACA 1 SUNDERLAND RCA 0 Attendance 247
An injury ravaged RACA made it three wins on the spin with a hard fought 1-0 win over Sunderland RCA who were in fine form having won their last five league games. Morgan Dart’s 25th minute goal, having reacting fastest to the ball bouncing off the Ryhope post proving to be the only goal of the game. The Wearsiders piled on the pressure in the last quarter of the game but a fine Ryton rearguard action held firm to collect the three points.
MATCH SUMMARY
Nathan Beckham faced a selection headache for this home game against in-form Sunderland RCA . Fergus Lynch was serving a one match suspension while there was a whole doctor’s waiting room worth of injuries ravaging the squad & keeping several key players on the sidelines. Scott Oldfield was called up to made his seasonal debut while players were pushed into the forward line with Callum Johnston the only recognised striker in the starting eleven. Dylan Lawson was also named on the bench for the first time since recovering from his lengthy injury.
On a rain soaked pitch, it was visitors who created the first chance of the game on 7 minutes when Callum Guy found Jack Patterson unmarked on the left wing with an accurate cross, but Patterson, slightly off balance, couldn’t keep the shot down & it went over the Ryton bar. Albion’s first chance of note came after 17 minutes following a period of sustained pressure when Johnston struck a shot from the edge of the box which Ryhope keeper Karl Dryden stopped, but he could only parry the ball out to Albe Fletcher who fired over the bar from close range. RACA did manage to open the scoring on 24 minutes when they were awarded a free kick just outside the ‘D’ of the Sunderland box. Johnston struck the ball sweetly but Dryden just got enough contact on the ball to tip it on to his post, the ball bouncing into the centre of the box where Morgan Dart reacted quickest & he drilled his close range shot goalwards where again Dryden got a hand to it, but there was sufficient venom in the shot to just cross the line & Albion were ahead against a side that had traditionally struggled in NE40 over the years. Albion thought they’d doubled the advantage five minutes later when a neat exchange between Josh Skivington and Fletcher saw the latter loop in a shot that clipped the post, the ball bouncing to Johnston who prodded home only to be deemed offside by former Albion player Luke Watson now running the line in the Northern League.
HT RACA 1 Sunderland RCA 0
The opening stages of the second period were short on goalmouth action but on 65 minutes Ryhope’s Archie Dodds floated a free kick into the Albion box where Dominic Moan’s attempt at an overhead kick wasn’t far wide of the post. Sunderland’s best chance of an equaliser came in the 67th minute when Luke Richards’ cross played pinball in the RACA box, the ball falling to Max Monaghan at the back post, but he could only fire wide from close quarters & Ryton had a let off. The visitors were beginning to pile on the pressure on the Albion goal & an Archie Dodds ball to Guy saw him cut into the box only to be denied a shot from a timely sliding tackle from RACA captain George Hayton. Dodds almost lobbed Ryton keeper Callum Corkhill on 71 minutes, a minute later Aidan Stanton connected with a corner to hook the ball just wide & on 83 minutes, Corkhill had to push a Dodds free kick round the post but despite the pressure, Albion’s backs to the wall defending kept the Wearsiders at bay. Ryton did look menacing on the break as Ryhope pushed more men forward, both Nathan Beesley and Morgan Dart bringing saves out of Dryden, but one goal was enough & they held on to the three points, completing an eleven day double over RCA having won the 9 goal League Cup thriller over them last Wednesday. Ryton remain in 9th place despite the win.
RACA- Corkhill, Beesley, Oldfield, Hyde, Hayton, Dodds, Emmerson (Parker 39, Whittaker 84), Skivington, Johnston (Lawson 79), Dart, Fletcher (Driver 76). Substitute not used- Adotey
Veteran midfielder Daniel Craggs has moved to first division Whickham in what is believed to be in a player / coaching capacity. Daniel made 41 starts for us, coming on as substitute 11 times (including once this season) and scored 8 goals since joining Albion in 2023/24. We wish Craggsy the best of fortune at The Glebe.
Albion welcome Sunderland RCA to the Oldhaulage Stadium on Saturday just 11 days after the nine goal league Cup Thriller at Meadow Park, and hopeful of completing a clean sweep of wins over the Sunderland clubs following the away win at West End on Saturday. RCA bounced back from that defeat with a 3-2 win over Seaham Red Star at the weekend & also had a penalty saved in that game so their confidence is fully restored with that fine victory that sees them sitting in 11th place just a point behind us, though they have played a game more. Our home record against the Wearsiders is a good one, having won every second division fixture played in NE40 against them, the last one being the 4-1 win last season in which Morgan Dart, Louis Calvert, Glenn Caygill and Fergus Lynch (who is suspended for Saturday’s game) were all on target for RACA while Luke McCabe was sent off in that game. In this season’s reverse fixture in SR2 in early August we didn’t fare so well, Sunderland running out comfortable 3-1 winners with Dennis Knight (2) and Jackson Ward on target for the hosts while Louis Anderson scored a late consolation for Albion. Kick off is the usual 3pm & without any Premier League action to interrupt the real football hopefully there’ll be a decent attendance on Saturday. Be good to see you there if you can make it, your support is greatly appreciated & hopefully a few from Wearside can make the trip north-west too.
Tuesday’s Division 2 Result
Yarm & Eaglescliffe 4 (Hillerby, Dalton, Atkinson 2) Tow Law Town 0
Wednesday’s Division 2 Result
Prudhoe YC 0 Billingham Synthonia 5 (Marsay, Irvine, Raby, Lamb, Hodgkinson)
Wednesday’s League Cup Result
Esh Winning 0 Marske United 2
Friday’s Division 2 Result
Redcar Town 3 (Taylor, Clark 2) Sunderland West End 1 (Robinson)
Ryton & Crawcrook Albion produced a determined second-half turnaround to earn a hard-fought 2–1 victory away at Sunderland West End on Saturday.
Trailing at the break, Albion responded with real character and composure, with goals from Rhys McLeod and Louis Calvert completing the comeback and securing an important three points on the road.
RACA: Corkhill, Beesley, Fletcher, Lynch, Hayton, Dodds, Hyde (Skivington 57), Dart, Calvert (Parker 87), McLeod (Emmerson 78), Johnston (Groves-Forbes 68). Sub not used: Whittaker.
Attendance: 60.
Albion return to league action on Saturday with a trip to the Ford Hub to face Sunderland West End, fresh from Tuesday night’s dramatic 5-4 victory at Sunderland RCA in the Brooks Mileson Memorial League Cup. Nathan Beckham will be hoping the character and attacking quality shown in that game carries into this weekend’s league fixture.
It’s also a chance to complete our first double of the season, having already beaten West End 1–0 at the Oldhaulage Stadium back in July, when Kurtis Dodds’ early finish sealed the points.
If you are travelling to support the lads, the address for your Satnav is: Keelmans Lane, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear, SR4 0HB. Your support is always appreciated on the road!
Ryton & Crawcrook Albion edged a dramatic nine-goal thriller at Sunderland RCA to reach Round Two of the Brooks Mileson Memorial League Cup, played in relentless rain at Meadow Park on Tuesday evening.
Albion made the perfect start when Morgan Dart opened the scoring in the third minute with a superb strike. The hosts responded quickly, however, with Lewis Lukeman equalising just two minutes later, before Aidan Stanton put RCA ahead on ten minutes.
RACA hit back in style. Louis Calvert levelled the match just after the half-hour mark, and moments later Nathan Beesley fired Albion in front. The momentum continued as Louis Anderson added a fourth before half-time, giving Ryton a 4-2 lead at the interval.
RCA reduced the deficit when Stanton converted from the penalty spot midway through the second half, but substitute Callum Johnston restored Albion’s two-goal cushion with a superb curling finish from the edge of the box with just over ten minutes remaining. Stanton completed his hat-trick almost immediately to make it 5-4, setting up a tense finale, but RACA held firm to secure a memorable victory.
The win sets up a Round Two trip to Birtley Town.
RACA: White, Beesley, Dart, Lynch (Fletcher 84), Hayton, Dodds, Groves-Forbes, Hyde (Parker 60), Anderson (Skivington 80), McLeod, Calvert (Johnston 67). Sub not used: Whittaker.
Attendance: 84.
Albion face two trips to Wearside in the next five days, one in the cup & one in the league. On Tuesday night it’s a second trip of the season to Meadow Park to face Sunderland RCA in the Brookes Mileson Memorial League Cup 1st Round. Nathan Beckham will be hoping that his side fair better than in early August when we lost 3-1 in the corresponding league game, Louis Anderson the man on target that sunny afternoon. Then on Saturday it’s a trip to the Ford Hub to face Sunderland West End in a league fixture. Albion have the opportunity to attain their first double of the season having already beaten the Westenders 1-0 at the Oldhaulage Stadium in July, Kurtis Dodds with the deciding goal.
If you’re planning on attending either game, the postcodes for your Satnav are-
RCA – Meadow Park 22 Beechbrooke, Ryhope, Sunderland SR2 0NZ
West End – Keelmans Lane, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear, SR4 0HB
This month’s lucky winners are-
1st prize No 18 Sam Moore who wins £100
2nd Prize No 75 also Sam Moore who wins £75
3rd Prize No 16 S Murray who wins £25
next draw is on Sunday 07/12/2025
Well done to our two winners, if you’d like to take part in this monthly fundraiser from just £5 a month, please contact us via the usual channels on the foot of the homepage or contact Kevin Wilkinson at the club. Thank-you
FT RACA 1 FC HARTLEPOOL 2 Attendance 204
Albion’s poor form against the division’s top clubs continued as second placed FC Hartlepool completed the double over RACA at the Oldhaulage Stadium. Despite an improved performance from the hosts, Pools led 1-0 at half time from a Fin Smith goal. Rhys McLeod levelled early in the second half only for Smith to grab what would be the winner for Hartlepool just two minutes later.
RACA– Corkhill, Fletcher (Higgins 71), Dart, Lynch (Whittaker 78), Hayton, Beesley, Hyde, McLeod (Emmerson 71), Anderson, Johnston (Groves-Forbes 58), Calvert. Substitute not used- White
MATCH SUMMARY
FC Hartlepool travelled to the Tyne Valley in second place in the table & having won the last three encounters with RACA, who had a bit of a squad shake up with Nathan Beckham starting new signing Nathan Beesley in defence & having another new midweek acquisition, Ryan Higgins on the bench.
In bright & breezy conditions, it was the visitors who created the first chance in the 9th minute when a clearance landed at the feet of Mikey McGee who, spotting Albion keeper Callum Corkhill off his line, tried to lob him from 30 yards out, but the ball just went over the bar despite dipping rapidly. Corkhill was twice called into action just two minutes later when his defence struggled to deal with an FC cross, the ball falling to Josh Daley whose shot was clawed away by the Ryton keeper, but only to Jake Stott, & his effort was also blocked by Corkhill & Daley could only fire his second bite of the cherry wide. RACA were straight on the attack & broke swiftly, the referee playing a good advantage when Rhys McLeod was fouled, and Louis Calvert was in possession. He found Anderson who skipped goal side of the Pools defence but Harry Carr stretched out a leg to block the Albion man’s shot. Hartlepool were on the scent of an opening goal on 28 minutes when Aidan Chainey & McGee combined, the latter bringing another save out of Corkhill. Fin Smith did open the scoring in 31 minutes from his position on the left flank, he received the ball from Chainey, cutting in and unleashing a shot that beat Corkhill and just crept inside the post despite the difficult angle. That would prove to be the only goal of the half, leaving Ryton with a tough second half assignment
HT RACA 0 FC Hartlepool 1
Whatever was said in the RACA changing room had a positive effect on the players as Anderson went on a fine solo run through a wall of defenders, but he was again thwarted by Carr. Better was to follow in the 52nd minute when Albion’s dominance of the early period of the second half was rewarded with an equaliser. A Corkhill kick upfield saw Callum Johnston lay off Rhys McLeod who had raced forward & he struck home his first goal of the season with the FC defenders trailing in his wake.The Teessiders almost drew level on 55 minutes when the tricky McGee waltzed through the Albion defence, his blocked shot landing to Daley, whose shot struck the underside of the bar, the loose ball being headed by Tom Gavin who couldn’t get enough power on his effort & Corkhill gathered safely. The visitors didn’t have to wait long for their second goal as on 56 minutes a Carr punt upfield was chested down by Chainey to Smith who cut in and slotted home despite the efforts of the defence sliding in to try & block the shot. And Smith had a half chance to grab his hat-trick on 72 minutes when taking advantage of a short back pass to Corkhill, but his chip cleared the bar to the relief of the home fans among the 204 spectators. McGee almost got a third goal for the visitors with a 75th minute shot from inside the box that just went wide of the post, then out of nowhere Louis Calvert hooked a 79th minute clearance goalward which Carr had to dive to push wide and prevent the equaliser.. And as the sun set on the Oldhaulage Stadium in the first game following the clocks going back, so went the chance of RACA salvaging anything from the game & Pool would head down the A19 with the three points. Despite the defeat, RACA stay in 9th place but they are seeing their play-off rivals disappearing in the distance.
FT RACA 1 FC HARTLEPOOL 2
RACA– Corkhill, Fletcher (Higgins 71), Dart, Lynch (Whittaker 78), Hayton, Beesley, Hyde, McLeod (Emmerson 71), Anderson, Johnston (Groves-Forbes 58), Calvert. Substitute not used- White
Saturday’s Other Division 2 Results
Alnwick Town 2 (Clarke, Anderson) Jarrow 2 (Barber, Barnett)
Boldon CA 0 Durham United 2 (Hopkins, Kay)
Esh Winning 2 (Curl, o.g.) Grangetown Boys Club 0
Newcastle University 2 (Storr 2) Billingham Town 1 (Watt)
Redcar Town 6 (Clark 3, Robinson-Coley, Stares, Smith) Tow Law Town 0
Seaham Red Star 0 Sunderland West End 0
Sunderland RCA 3 ( Guy 2, Stanton) Prudhoe YC Seniors 1 (Plunkett)
Yarm & Eaglescliffe 1 (Hillerby) Chester-le-Street Town 0
