Ryton & Crawcrook Albion are delighted to announce a new addition to the management team as Gary Somerville joins the club as Assistant Manager.

Somerville brings with him a wealth of experience being part of a very successful West Allotment Celtic side and knows exactly what it takes to progress up the league.

“I’m over the moon to have Gary come in and work alongside myself and first team coach Michael [McMullen],” commented manager Nathan Beckham.

“We were looking for someone to bring in with experience at this level and with Gary being a good friend of mine, it was a no brainer to bring him in.”

Ryton & Crawcrook Albion scored twice in stoppage time to snatch a dramatic 3-2 win over Penrith on Saturday to reach the first round of the Isuzu FA Vase for the first time in 15 years.

In a tight first half, Lee Hunter’s opener after 16 minutes gave the visitors from Cumbria the lead at Kingsley Park. Joseph Groves-Forbes levelled for Albion midway through the second period but the First Division side went back in front with a super strike from Matthew Moynan 13 minutes from the end.

Two minutes into stoppage time, Groves-Forbes found the crucial equaliser and the second qualifying round tie looked destined for penalties. But Kristian Sands came up for a corner in the 95th minute and headed home a dramatic winner with the last touch of the game as RACA completed an incredible comeback win.

The result means Albion navigate past the qualifying stages of the competition for the first time since the 2008-09 campaign, when they reached the second round.

The draw for Round 1 will be released on Monday with the tie set to be played on 21 October, which means the Washington game will be rescheduled.

Meanwhile, Nathan Beckham’s side return to league action with a midweek trip to Jarrow coming up on Wednesday before hosting Yarm & Eaglescliffe next Saturday.

Attendance: 175

RACA Man of the Match: Joseph Groves-Forbes

RACA: Mooney, Sands, Oldfield, Craggs, Esdaille, Caygill, Lynch, Skivington (Dudgeon 65), Smith (McLeod 60), Salim (Hoggins 81), Groves-Forbes.

Penrith: Taylor, Peile, Metcalfe, Howe, Morrison, Moynan, Hebson, Holden, Brunskill, Hunter, Shields.

Ryton & Crawcrook Albion have been drawn at home to FC Hartlepool in the first round of the Durham County FA ‘Frank Pattison’ Challenge Cup.

The newly-promoted side are set to visit Kingsley Park on a date to be confirmed in the week preceding 14 October 2023.

Prudhoe YC Seniors took the Tyne Valley derby honours with a 3-1 win on a miserable night for 10-man Ryton & Crawcrook Albion.

Despite the heavy rain, a season-high crowd of 422 packed into Kingsley Park for the eagerly awaited first league derby of the season with RACA going into the match with three consecutive wins and their local rivals losing their last three.

Ryton, who had to change jerseys to the away yellow tops due to a kit clash, dominated the clear cut chances in the first half, but it was the visitors who controlled the second period and went in front five minutes into it through former RACA-man Bradley Lowes. Ben Dibb-Fuller then doubled the advantage just after the hour mark.

Fergus Lynch gave Albion a lifeline but a straight red card for Aaron Costello with 15 minutes to go all-but ended any hopes of a comeback for Nathan Beckham’s side.

Kyle Cockburn – another ex-Ryton player – wrapped up the win late on for Prudhoe, who leapfrog Albion in the Ebac Northern League Division Two table.

RACA host Penrith in the Isuzu FA Vase Second Round Qualifying next Saturday.

Attendance: 422

RACA Man of the Match: Michael Baxter

RACA: Libotte, Groves-Forbes, Symons (Oldfield 56), Caygill, Esdaille, Lynch, Craggs (Lowery 84), Hoggins (Salim 56), Costello, McLeod (Skivington 53), Baxter (Smith 84).

Prudhoe: Cassap, Graham, Russell, Willoughby, Below, Plunkett, Dibb-Fuller, Lowes, Cockburn, Scott, Morris.

Ryton & Crawcrook Albion came from an early goal down to record a superb 4-1 win at Thornaby on Saturday in the Ebac Northern League 2.

Albion fell behind to a Billy Clark strike inside 2 minutes in sweltering conditions at Teesdale Park. However, the visitors responded well and Abubaker Salim equalised four minutes later.

After dismissing a strong penalty appeal earlier, the referee awarded RACA a penalty after 18 minutes for a handball, which Aaron Costello coolly dispatched. Daniel Craggs then extended the lead with a fabulous free kick midway through the half to put Albion in cruise control.

Michael Baxter struck the woodwork twice and Adam Mooney denied the home side on a couple of occasions before Costello wrapped up the three points deep into injury time with his 8th goal of the campaign.

The third consecutive win moves Nathan Beckham’s side up to 9th in the league and above local rivals Prudhoe YC Seniors ahead of this Friday night’s eagerly awaited Tyne Valley derby at Kinsgley Park.

Attendance: 207

RACA Man of the Match: Fergus Lynch

Thornaby: Makepeace, Gant, Priest, Petterson, Proctor, Joynes, Stapley, J Alali, Hurworth, Milburn, Clark.

RACA: Mooney, Lowery (Hildreth 85), Symons, Lynch, Esdaille, Caygill, Baxter (Dudgeon 86), Craggs (Skivington 74), Costello, Salim (McLeod 63), Hoggins (Smith 46).

A stunning late strike from Michael Baxter and a stoppage-time winner from Daniel Craggs helped Ryton & Crawcrook Albion to a dramatic 2-1 comeback win over Boldon at Kingsley Park on Wednesday.

Albion started strongly with Richard Hoggins going close with a couple of early efforts but it was the visitors who took the lead when Dario Dos Santos headed home a corner midway through the first half.

The match turned on 73 minutes when Ben Heeley was sent off for the visitors for commiting a last-man foul against Baxter, who was going through on goal. The resulting free kick struck the wall but Albion kept the attack alive and Baxter managed to find the top corner of the net with a stunning curling effort from the edge of the box.

With confidence now flowing, Albion were pushing for a winner and they got it in the 92nd minute when Daniel Craggs tapped in at the back post.

Boldon finished the match with 9 men following a sin bin for Aaron Williams for dissent.

The result means its back-to-back wins for Nathan Beckham’s side for the first time this season and moves Albion up to 10th in the Ebac Northern League 2 table ahead of the trip to Thornaby on Saturday.

Attendance: 275

RACA Man of the Match: Michael Baxter

RACA: Mooney, Dudgeon (Lowery 46), Symons, Sands (Baxter 32), Esdaille, Caygill, Craggs, Lynch, Costello, Salim (Smith 70), Hoggins (Hildreth 70).

Boldon CA: Briggs, Heeley, Bada, Tarn, Bainbridge, Williams, Dos Santos, Weston-Hannah, Djalo, Collins, Wilkinson.

The draw for September’s RACA 100 Club was held on Sunday.

The winners are:

•  No.50 M Jackson £100
•  No.70 C Thompson £75
•  No.3 D Lamb £25

Congratulations to the lucky winners! The next draw is scheduled for October 7, 2023.

To join the RACA 100 Club or for more details, please contact Mr Paul Le-Patourel on 07720413390.