RACA host Northern League newcomers AFC Newbiggin tomorrow (Saturday) in a fixture brought forward from March with neither side playing in the FA Vase 2nd Qualifying Round for which this weekend was put aside for. Following the fine win over Darlington on Wednesday, RACA look to make it 5 wins and/or 5 clean sheets in a row against a Newbiggin side who’ve adapted well to the step up to the Northern League following their promotion from the Northern Alliance, sitting slap bang in mid table and also coming in to the game following a midweek win, beating Sunderland RCA 2-1 at Holcim Park. We’ve not met Biggin in a competitive game but did play them at Newbiggin before the start of last season in a friendly that finished 2-2. Former Albion favourite, Richie Hoggins transferred over to the Northumberland coast earlier in the season & has netted for his new club three times, although hasn’t featured in their last two games. This game marks the end of the frantic start to the 25/26 season as we finally have a free midweek to look forward to before Chester-le-Street Town come to the Tyne Valley on Saturday.

Our upturn in fortunes & goals has the standings for top scorer as follows-

7- Anderson

5- Calvert

4- Bisset, Johnston, Salkeld

2- Dodds, Groves-Forbes

1- Lynch

Kick off is at the usual 3pm, hope to see a few of you there

DARLINGTON TOWN 0 RACA 3

Albion made it four straight wins and four clean sheets with this win at the Eastbourne Community Stadium over Darlington Town. Louis Anderson took just 58 seconds to put Ryton ahead & both he and Callum Johnston grabbed second half goals to beat a Darlo side who created plenty of chances themselves but were let down by poor finishing. RACA move up to 4th place with this latest 3 points

MATCH SUMMARY

RACA travelled to Darlington Town with both sides in completely differing form, RACA on a run of three wins without conceding while Town had gone five games without scoring a goal.

And things went bang to form in just 58 seconds when Albe Fletcher crossed from the right wing & Louis Anderson was on hand to flick the ball home from inside the box to net his 6^th goal of the season. Darlo must have feared the worst, especially when within a minute of the opener, Louis Calvert and Callum Johnston combined, the latter unleashing a shot that narrowly went over Nicholas Cranston in the Town goal’s bar. The hosts’ first chance came on 6 minutes when a header from Brandon Mallaburn bounced between teammate Ryu Williamson and Albion keeper Callum Corkhill, both went for the ball and got a touch each, the result of which was the ball going over the bar to safety from a RACA perspective. A minute later & Williamson was in the thick of things again outpacing the Ryton defence in the centre of the park, but his shot with just Corkhill to beat was well blocked with his feet by the keeper. Corkhill came to the rescue again on 16 minutes when in another Darlington attack, Williamson, Jim Wilson & Mallaburn played a neat move that ended up with Mallaburn going for goal but his shot was comfortably blocked. Albion almost got a textbook goal on 21 minutes when Declan Bissett did a spin & turn with the ball that left two Darlington players flat footed, then played a pin-point accurate cross to Calvert who was just denied by Cranston who was alert to the danger & blocked the shot with his feet. Cranston got the better of Calvert again on the 25 minute mark when the Ryton forward outpaced defender Luke Jackson following a punt upfield, but again saw his effort blocked by the stopper. Darlo almost equalised on 31 minutes when Reece Brown flicked a long throw in with his head which for once had Corkhill beaten but the ball bounced on the top of the bar and out of play. Then following a spell of sustained Albion pressure, Town broke smartly with James Beauchamp receiving the ball ,then going on a run before cutting inside the box but his resultant shot sailed over the bar. Darlo finished the half on the offensive, on 44 minutes, once again Williamson with the run down the right flank but again Corkhill was not for breaching and blocked the shot

HT Darlington Town 0 RACA 1

The second half started a bit less frenetically as the first though Johnstone was set up for a 48^th minute shot by Calvert, but like so many of the shots before the break at that end, it was fired over the bar, The same pair combined a minute later but this time Cranston blocked Johnson’s shot to keep his side in the game. At the other end Williamson turned provider when on 53 minutes he crossed to Wilson who spun round and shot, but it was just wide of the target. The home side came even closer to scring on 56 minutes when a Mallaburn cross was headed goalwards by Beauchamp but Danny Driver was on hand to scoop the ball to safety before it crossed the line. Town were to pay for their missed opportunities when Ryton extended the lead on 57 minutes. Bisset pulled back the ball from the by-line across the box to Johnston and while Cranston had committed himself to trying to block the cross, there were still three Darlington defenders in the environs of the RACA Number 10, but he steadied himself then popped the ball home to the dejection of the black & white clad defence. Not surprisingly the pace slackened a little given the effort both sides had put in but that didn’t stop Ryton sub Rhys McLeod from going on a solo run then launching a 25 yard piledriver that had Cranston at full stretch but the ball whizzed the wrong side of the crossbar. However Albion were to seal the deal on 73 minutes when McLeod curled in a shot that might well have found the back of the net, but Anderson was taking no chances as he slid in to divert the ball into the other end of the goal albeit trundling over the line in slow motion. Darlington plugged on, Beauchamp hit an 80^th minute shot, that looked to trigger a back injury, which was on target but it was an easy catch for Corkhill. Darlo sub Ciaran Dixon also managed to despatch an 89^th minute shot despite being surrounded by yellow shirts but it too went magnet-like into Corkhill’s mid-riff. So Albion’s defence held firm again but the three goal margin might have been a bit flattering as Darlington created plenty of chances, but their profligate finishing means their ‘goals for’ ledger continues to gather dust. Albion meanwhile, finally win away from the Tyne Valley, move up to 4^th place and push the goal difference up to plus 17. Can the run continue on Saturday against league newcomers AFC Newbiggin?

FT DARLINGTON TOWN 0 RACA 3 Attendance 78

RACA– Corkhill, Skivington, Dart, Luke, Lynch, Driver, Bisset (Whittaker 64), Fletcher (McLeod 55), Calvert (Adotey 76), Johnston, Anderson.

Wednesday’s Other Division 2 Results

Esh Winning 0 Newcastle University 3 (Redford, Morris, Carr)

Jarrow 3 (Cunningham, Hudson, Taylor) Sunderland West End 3 (Clarke, Anderson, Norton)

Prudhoe YC 0 Park View 1 (Loveday)

Thursday’s Division 2 Result

Durham United 2 (Kay, Hopkins) FC Hartlepool 1 (McGee)

RACA travel to Darlington Town on Wednesday hoping to extend the winning run to four games having defeated both Billingham sides and the University in a trio of home matches that saw us score 11 goals without reply. Town meanwhile are on a goal drought that has seen them go five games without scoring & picking up just the one point in that sequence with a home goalless draw against Sunderland RCA.

A banker away win then? Well to temper enthusiasm Albion still haven’t won a match outside the Tyne Valley this season, drawing one and losing four of our trips outside our homeland, so the travel pills will need to take effect in midweek. We’ve also never won at the Eastbourne Community Stadium though we have only played there the once, a 2-2 draw last season with Messrs Caygill and Calvert on target for us. With this being only Darlo’s second season at this level, we’ve only met three times in total, the other two games being played at Crawcrook last season, a 1-1 draw in the league and a 3-0 win in the Durham Challenge Cup Preliminary Round.

If you’re game for a long trip south, the address for your satnav is The Eastbourne Community Stadium, Bourne Ave, Darlington DL1 1LJ where the kick off is at 7:30pm

Tuesday’s Division 2 Results

AFC Newbiggin 2 (Elliott, Smith) Sunderland RCA 1 (Knight)

Alnwick Town 0 Yarm & Eaglescliffe 4 (Jones, Atkinson 3)

Billingham Town 0 Redcar Town 1 (o.g.)

Chester le Street Town 0 Seaham Red Star 2 (Thynne, Stephenson)

Grangetown BC 2 (Dixon 2) Tow Law Town 1 (Burnicle)

RACA 5 BILLINGHAM TOWN 0

Ryton finished their home medley of four games by turning on the style again to comfortably see off Billingham Town knocking up a third straight victory and keeping a third clean sheet in a row. Louis Anderson and Callum Johnston got a brace each & Rhys McLeod had a shot deflected in by a Town defender as Albion close in on the play off places.

MATCH SUMMARY

Ryton faced the blue half of Billingham at the Oldhaulage Stadium in the last of four homes games on the trot, having beaten the green half 2-0 and the University 4-0 in the previous week. And RACA took up where they left off, and were ahead in less than three minutes when a Town attack broke down & Josh Skivington booted the ball upfield to Louis Anderson who despite the attentions of two Billingham defenders, got the better of them to storm towards goal & slot home off the inside of the post past Jaan Yaqub in the Town goal. The visitors replied almost immediately when Leo Myers fired in a cross from the left flank that fell to Gary Mitchell but the Town No9 scooped his shot narrowly over the bar. Anderson should really have got his second goal on the quarter hour mark when Callum Johnston crossed to him in the six yard box, but he allowed the ball to run up his leg and it was an easy catch for Yaqub. It was Johnston himself who’d be next on the score sheet on 16 minutes when Declan Bisset played a beautiful curling ball up to him, he beat his man, steadied himself & curled the ball into the net from the edge of the box.The Albion fans were nearly treat to the goal of the season on 27 minutes when Morgan Dart, with the ball near the half way line spied Yaqub out of position & launched a strike that was bang on target but the Billingham keeper was able to recover and pluck the ball out of the air to safely. The Albion finished the half as they started it, with a goal. Anderson cut in from the left flank and struck a low show which Yaqub got down low to save, but he could only divert the ball to the feet of Johnston who had the easy task of tapping home in first half stoppage time.

HT RACA 3 Billingham Town 0

Ryton started the second half on the front foot, a fine solo run from Bisset culminated with him laying the ball to Johnston whose shot was deflected a couple of feet over the Town bar. The Teessiders came close to pulling a goal back on 61 minutes when Mitchell cleverly back heeled the ball to Joel White who beat his marker then his subsequent shot beat Ryton keeper Callum Corkhill but went wide of the post by a yard. RACA should have put the result beyond doubt when a 65^th minute move involving Louis Calvert, Johnston and Anderson saw Johnston fire the ball to the far post to the awaiting Anderson but he could only loop the ball over the bar from two yards out. The home side continued to take advantage of some leaded footed defending, Dart the next to come close with a 78^th minute grass cutter that went not too far wide of the Billingham post. A minute later Billingham’s White was proving to be their most potent threat in the second half, coming close once again with a shot following a corner but any remote hopes of a comeback were well and truly snuffed out in the 83^rd minute. Albion substitutes Albe Fletcher and Rhys McLeod combined with the latter striking a shot that the luckless Jamie Poole diverted into his own net with Yaqub looking to have the original shot covered. RACA finished the scoring on 92 minutes, once again leaving the Billingham defence in the rear view mirrors as McLeod played the ball out to Charlie Whittaker who in turn played the ball across the goal line where Johnston was waiting to tap into an empty net and continue the massive upturn in performance.

FT RACA 5 BILLINGHAM TOWN 0

RACA– Corkhill, Skivington (Whittaker 79), Dart, Salkeld, Dodds (Lynch 50), Driver, Bisset (Fletcher 71), Luke, Calvert (Cairns 77), Johnston (McLeod 66), Anderson

Saturday’s Other Division 2 Results

Billingham Synthonia 0 Esh Winning 1 (Ellis)

FC Hartlepool 0 Jarrow 3 (Barber 3)

Grangetown 2 (Paterson, Dixon) Prudhoe 1 (Rogers)

Newcastle University 0 Redcar Town 4 (McLeod, Clark 2, Robinson-Coley)

Park View 0 Alnwick Town 2 (Aziakounou, Anderson)

Seaham Red Star 2 (Appleby 2) Darlington Town 0

Sunderland RCA 0 Chester-le-Street Town 3 (Brownsword, o.g. Simpson)

Sunderland West End 2 (Benali, Davison) AFC Newbiggin 1 (Smith)

Tow Law Town 0 Durham United 0

Yarm & Eaglescliffe 3 (Atkinson 2, Wild) Boldon CA 1 (Purvis)

The draw for the 1st Round (last 32 stage) of the Durham Challenge Cup was made this evening & last of the hat were ourselves being drawn away to first division strugglers Crook Town. The tie at Millfield will be played the midweek before Saturday 11th October. We’ve not played the Black And Amber at Millfield since 2019/20 & not in a cup fixture since 2009/10 when we won in the semi final of the same competition 1-0

In the last of our sequence of four successive home games we welcome Billingham Town to HQ on Saturday who themselves are playing their fifth consecutive away league game. The blue half of Billingham sit in 15th place but have games in hand over most of their second division rivals, and come into the game buoyed by a win over National League North side Darlington in the Durham Challenge Cup in midweek, beating The Quakers on penalties after a 3-3 draw after 90 minutes. RACA also come into the game on a high following the impressive 4-0 win over Newcastle University on Wednesday night, once again played in front of a 200+ attendance on what was one rainy night, so that was a particularly great crowd. The three points propelled us right up to 7th place, our highest position since last season, and those who braved the elements were rewarded with what is generally agreed as our finest performance of the season to date.

Town are one of our most regular opponents since we joined the Northern League, today’s fixture being the 29th meeting between the sides but we have been on the receiving end of a few hidings in those encounters. Our joint record home defeat was at the hands of Billingham, a 0-8 reverse in the 2017/18 season that prompted the resignation of manager Paul Dobie, & we conceded nine goals in a 9-2 loss at Bedford Terrace in 2022/23 plus that 0-6 reverse there last season to list just three. We did at least win this corresponding fixture last season 2-1 with Abu Salim and Dale Burrell on target for Ryton back in August and also won the controversial E Armstrong cup tie here where the floodlights temporarily packed in.

If you’re wanting to see if we can make it three wins and three clean sheets in a row, kick off is at the usual time of 3pm

Albion tore up the recent form book in recent games between these sides with a comprehensive 4-0 over the Uni at a soggy Oldhaulage Stadium. Leading 1-0 at half time through a Jack Salkeld goal, Ryton turned on the style against their near neighbours in the second half though the University’s Adam Redford’s 47th minute dismissal helped things along as further goals from Joe Groves-Forbes, Salkeld & Declan Bisset completed the scoring. However a late serious looking injury to Dan Ord took the some of the shine off the victory.

FT RACA 4 NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY 0

MATCH SUMMARY

Albion welcomed near neighbours Newcastle University to a wet Oldhaulage Stadium seriously overdue a victory over the Students following a dismal run of form & Nathan Beckham was able to field Rhys McLeod on the bench for the first time this season following his pre-season shoulder dislocation. It was the home side who mastered the conditions better & created an early chance from a 4^th minute Josh Skivington corner which Louis Anderson got his head to but it flashed wide of the Uni goal. Two minutes later a flick upfield from Louis Calvert saw Jack Elliott burst forward, having the legs to outrun the University defence but his shot was a simple stop for keeper Will Lacey. The Students’ first chance came in the 8^th minute when Kane Morris went on a solo run down the right wing but the cross-come-shot was blocked by RACA keeper Callum Corkhill before it could reach Jacob Milner who’d made a similar run forward. Their second chance came just seconds later with a speculative shot from distance from Adam Pow which had Corkhill scrambling across his line to escort the ball just wide of the Ryton goal. RACA took the lead on 12 minutes with a goal that was as simple as it was impressive. A Skivington corner was met by Jack Salkeld who leapt higher than all in red shirts, his bullet header giving Lacey no chance & Albion were ahead. While dominating most of the rest of the half Albion couldn’t get the final touch that would give a two goal cushion & they had to settle for the minimum advantage at the interval

HT RACA 1 Newcastle University 0

The University’s hopes of taking something from the game were given a blow a minute into the second half when their captain Adam Redford was late with a challenge on Jack Elliott and referee Zak Logue decided rather harshly it seemed to produce a straight red card. It took about 20 minutes before Albion took advantage of the extra man though they were helped by a clumsy three man move by the Uni to try to clear the ball from their defensive area. Joe Groves-Forbes nipped in to pick up the stray ball, cut into the box and found a gap twixt defender and post with his shot to double the advantage. 2-0 became 3-0 as the rain continued to fall, in the 75^th minute Ryton played the ball out from the back, Louis Calvert finding Salkeld who got goal side of his markers, then took the ball wide, drawing Lacey out of his goal before slotting coolly past him to surely wrap up the points. There was a glimmer of hope on 77 minutes that the visitors might pull one back from a throw in that was flicked on to Alexander Humble whose flick from short range was on target but lacked the necessary venom and Corkhill was able to dive on the ball and prevent the consolation. Albion’s worst moment of the game came not from a goal from the University, but an 81^st minute injury to Dan Ord who appeared to land awkwardly when defending a corner & had to be carried off the field after lengthy treatment. With all the substitutes used, it was 10 against 10 for the remainder of the game but that didn’t stop RACA from scoring their fourth and probably best goal of the night on 88 minutes.when Declan Bisset was played in by Charlie Whittaker & he played a lovely dink that went over the advancing Lacey & into the back of the net for 4-0. The Uni plugged on for a consolation goal but long range efforts from Jos Storr and Humble were never likely going to trouble Corkhill even in the slippy conditions & Albion won back to back games for the first time this season.

RACA– Corkhill, Skivington (Fletcher 74), Dart, Luke (McLeod 78), Driver, Dodds, Salkeld , Groves-Forbes (Bisset 78), Calvert, Elliott (Ord 67), Anderson (Whittaker 67).

Wednesdays Other Division 2 Results

Darlington Town 0 Sunderland RCA 0

Prudhoe YC 2 (Wright, Symington) Alnwick Town 4 (Smith, Clark, Potts, Agostinho)

Wednesday’s Durham Challenge Cup Results

Esh Winning 0 Brandon United 3

Jarrow 2 (Cunningham, Beattie) Hartlepool United 2 Jarrow win 3-1 on penalties

Gateshead Rutherford 1 Park View 1 (Bannister) Rutherford Win 4-3 on penalties

Willington 2 Tow Law Town 3 (Wilson, Marsden, Bennett)

Albion host Prudhoe based Newcastle University at The Oldhaulage Stadium on Wednesday evening in the third of a run of four consecutive home games.

Our recent record against the Uni is dreadful however, since beating them in the 2022 Ernest Armstrong Cup Final we’ve picked up one point out of a possible eighteen, losing the corresponding fixture last season 0-2. The Students are seven places above us in 6th place, but only three points better off in the congested mid table of Division 2, & a two goal victory in our favour actually would see us leapfrog them, so a win would project us right up the table.

If you’re planning on coming to cheer on the boys in black and blue, the kick off on Wednesday is at 7:30pm

Monday’s Durham Challenge Cup Result

South Shields 1 Durham United 6 (Hopkins, Kay 2, Boothroyd, Challinor, Bell)

Tuesday’s Division 2 Results

AFC Newbiggin 0 FC Hartlepool 1 (O’Gorman)

Redcar Town 2 (Clark, Beach) Billingham Synthonia 5 (Irvine 2, Gray, Lawrence, Webb)

Tuesday’s Durham Challenge Cup Results

Billingham Town 3 (Spencer, Mitchell, White) Darlington 3 (Town win 5-4 on penalties)

Chester le Street Town 6 (Brownsword, Robson 3, Bainbridge, Nelson) Durham Corinthians 1

Farringdon Detached 3 Boldon CA 1 (Gateshill)

This month’s lucky winners are-

1st prize No 97 M Dobson who wins £100

2nd Prize No 32 K Wilkinson who wins £75

3rd Prize No 80 S Cairns who wins £25

next draw is on 05/10/2025

Well done to our three 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 Paul le Patourel at the club on 07720 413390 . Thank-you

Albion played out a fifth consecutive 2-0 result, this time in our favour at home to strugglers Billingham Synthonia. Both goals came in the first half, a back flicked header from Kurtis Dodds & a free kick from Louis Calvert doing the damage that moves us up to 13th place, while Synners are now two points adrift at the foot of the Division 2 table.

MATCH SUMMARY

RACA hoped to get their stuttering season back on track with the visit of basement boys Billingham Synthonia in front of another impressive home attendance of 207 enjoying the early autumn sunshine.

Albion started straight on the front foot and within a minute, Synners keeper Will Lawrence was called into action when Callum Johnson tried to square the ball to Louis Calvert who was bearing down on the Billingham goal, but the custodian managed to smother the ball before the probable tap in. Within a minute there was an almost carbon copy move, again Johnston playing in the ball from the right to Calvert only this time the Ryton number 9 was thwarted by defenders, Ryan Johnson blocking the ball before being punted to safety by Ethan Cartwright. However RACA were rewarded for their persistence in the 3^rd minute when Danny Driver launched one of his trademark exocet throw into the Synners’ box & Kurtis Dodds cleverly back flicked the ball with his head into the back of the net. The Teessiders’ first chance of note came on 11 minutes when the Ryton defence failed to clear the ball properly from a Synthonia clearance and Ben Riddiough nipped in & chanced his arm with a shot that Albion keeper Callum Corkhill had to push over the bar. It was RACA who’d get the next goal of the game & it came in slightly comedic fashion from a 28^th minute free kick awarded just outside the Billingham box. Synners set up a four man wall & as Calvert struck a low drive, the wall jumped, the ball zipped under them and found its way past Lawrence and into the net. Billingham responded on 32 minutes with a neat move involving Spencer Evans and James Webb which culminated in the latter striking the ball cleanly, beating the keeper but firing into the side netting.

HT RACA 2 Billingham Synthonia

Synners created the first real chance of the second period, Evans taking advantage of hesitant Ryton defending on 53 minutes, sliding in before an intended clearance, the ball falling kindly to Webb who, flanked by two defenders struck for home only to see Corkhill block his shot with his legs. A minute later another Driver long throw into the Billingham box caused panic, this time it was David Luke who back flicked towards the goal with his head though this time Lawrence clawed the ball away and eventually the Synthonia defence played it to safety. The visitors brought another save out of Corkhill, this time from a Sam Lawrence free kick on 60 minutes that he curled round the wall, and then came even closer to scoring seconds when Cameron Thompson looped a ball over Corkhill which glanced off the bar. Billingham were back on the attack in the 64^th minute following a fine run by Webb down the left wing. With Thompson unmarked on the far post, Morgan Dart made a crucial intervention of the cross, knocking it out for a corner when on another day it could have easily been a classic own goal. Ryton were presented a half chance on a plate when the Synners keeper Lawrence got himself in a total mix up trying to shepherd out a loose ball for a throw in, but Calvert dispossessed him & from a tight angle hit a shot goalward, but luckily for Lawrence, and Synthonia, Cartwright was on the line to clear to safety. It was Will’s brother Sam who tried to pull one back for Billingham from a free kick on 70 minutes. Once again he beat the wall but not Corkhill. Thereafter the game fizzled out which of course sorted Albion as they held on to the 2-0 win, and extended the unusual sequence of both teams not scoring in a RACA match to seven games.

FT RACA 2 BILLINGHAM SYNTHONIA 0 Attendance 207

RACA– Corkhill, Skivington, Dart, Luke, Dodds, Driver, Salkeld (Ord 73), Elliott, Calvert, Bisset (Whittaker 62), Johnston (Blakey 84). Substitutes not used – Scott, Cairns

Saturday’s Other Division 2 Results

Alnwick Town 1 (Hayes) Boldon CA (Robertson)

Durham United 2 (Selvardoray, Boothroyd) Prudhoe YC 1 (Wilson)

FC Hartlepool 2 (McGee, Bayes) Chester-le-Street Town 1 (Nelson)

Grangetown BC 0 Jarrow 1 (Bates)

Newcastle University 1 (Redford) Seaham Red Star 3 (Weirs, Leonard, O’Connor)

Park View 0 Esh Winning 0

Sunderland RCA 4 (Stanton 2, Dodds, McCarthy) Billingham Town 3 (Mitchell, Stares, White)

Sunderland West End 3 (Hunter, Davis, Norton) Darlington Town 0

Tow Law Town 1 (Raitt) AFC Newbiggin 2 (Hoggins, Cooper)

Yarm & Eaglesciffe 1 (Roberts) Redcar Town 2 (Gott, Clark)