Ryton & Crawcrook Albion are still searching for their first points of the Ebac Northern League Division Two season after going down to a disappointing 3-1 defeat at FC Hartlepool on Saturday.

After a mostly even first half in which Adam Mooney made two brilliant saves for RACA, the newly-promoted hosts went ahead just three minutes into the second period when captain Dean Cope headed in from a corner.

Phillip Angus then doubled FC’s lead eight minutes later – and while Lee Waugh reduced the arrears a minute after that from the penalty spot – Angus immediately responded with his second to condemn Albion to consecutive defeats to start the new season.

Nathan Beckham and Andrew Waugh’s side – who lost 1-0 to Horden CW on the opening day – now have back-to-back home games coming up this week with Chester-le-Street United visiting Crawcrook on Wednesday and Sunderland West End then following 48 hours later.

Attendance: 207.

RACA Man of the Match: Adam Mooney.

FC Hartlepool: Simpson, Burrows, Naylor, Eavin, Cope, Ball, Angus, Daley, Henderson, Smith, Spalding.

RACA: Mooney, Groves-Forbes, Senior (Hoggins 74), Esdaille, Williams (Hildreth 74), Caygill (Ardley 46), Bamborough, Waugh, Costello, Skivington (Smith 74), McLeod (Lawson 46).

Ryton & Crawcrook Albion were defeated 1-0 by Horden CW at Kingsley Park on Saturday on the opening day of the Ebac Northern Football League Division Two season.

Liam Wright’s goal on the stroke of half time secured the visitors all three points after a slow start by Albion playing the first half against a strong wind.

The home side improved in the second half and despite creating chances, failed to find a way to break down Horden. Goalkeeper Adam Mooney went closest to an equaliser with his clearance striking the woodwork at the begining of the second period. RACA also had a strong penalty claim midway through the second half for a hand-ball turned down by the referee.

Nathan Beckham and Andrew Waugh’s side travel to Jarrow on Wednesday and newly-promoted FC Hartlepool next Saturday as they look to kick-start their season. Missing today – the likes of Aaron Costello, Scott Bamborough, Lee Waugh and Ryan Smith should be back in contention for the away double-header.

Attendance: 195.

RACA Man of the Match: Glenn Caygill.

RACA: Mooney, Hildreth (Symons 55), Senior (Lynch 60), Caygill, Sands, Esdaille, Lawson (Adotey 82), Skivington, Hoggins (Robertson 71), McLeod, Groves-Forbes.

Horden: Foster, K. Campbell, Hodgson, Simpson, Dobinson, Wallace, Fowler, T. Campbell, Wright, Middleton, Pounder.

Ryton & Crawcrook Albion ended their pre-season campaign with a 1-1 draw at Carlisle City on Saturday.

Lee Waugh gave Ryton the lead after Carlisle failed to deal with a corner into the box on the half-hour mark.

The hosts were reduced down to 10-men shortly before the interval after the referee spotted an off-the-ball incident involving Jordan Holt. He then controversially awarded the home side a penalty at the start of the second half for an alledged hand ball, which Rob McCartney converted.

Ryan Smith saw a late strike cannon off the bar as RACA searched for a winner in the heavy rain in Cumbria.

The result means Albion conclude their pre-season schedule unbeaten after earlier victories over Newcastle Benfield (2-1), West Allotment Celtic (1-0), AFC Newbiggin (1-0), Stobswood Welfare (10-1) and Sunderland RCA (6-3). You can catch up with (most of) the goals from pre-season on RACA TV on YouTube.

RACA begin the new Ebac Northern League Division Two season at home to Horden CW next Saturday.

Ryton & Crawcrook Albion came from an early goal down to beat First Division Sunderland RCA 6-3 in a thrilling pre-season friendly on Tuesday night.

The hosts took an early lead through Ashley Lavan but Albion responded quickly with an equaliser inside ten minutes thanks to Aaron Costello. Rhys McLeod then edged the visitors ahead with a smart finish. Lee Waugh extended the lead from the penalty spot before Costello added his second before half time for a commanding 4-1 lead.

The Wearsiders pulled a goal back through a trialist early in the second period but Costello then completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot before Waugh added his second goal of the night with a lovely strike. John Anderson reduced the margin of defeat for the home side in the closing stages.

Joint Manager Andrew Waugh – in sole charge today with Nathan Beckham away – will be hoping for more of the same on Saturday as RACA travel to Carlisle City in the final pre-season match and make it six out of six friendlies ahead of the new Ebac Northern League Division Two season next weekend.

Ryton & Crawcrook Albion eased to a 10-1 win over Stobswood Welfare in their latest pre-season friendly on Friday night.

Despite the torrential rain, Albion produced a strong performance against the newly-promoted Northern Alliance Premier Division side scoring 5 goals in each half.

Albion’s goals came from Richard Hoggins (3), Rhys McLeod (3), Ryan Smith (2), Lee Waugh and Kristian Sands.

Disappointingly, the hosts did get a late consolation goal to deny Albion a clean sheet.

Nathan Beckham and Andrew Waugh’s side were due to travel to Seaton Delaval next – in their penultimate friendly on Wednesday – but the opposition have had to sadly pull out. News of a possible replacement fixture will be announced in due course.

The final pre-season fixture will see RACA make the trip to Carlisle a week on Saturday, 22nd July.

Aaron Costello’s first half goal was enough to secure Ryton & Crawcrook Albion a hard-fought 1-0 win over AFC Newbiggin on Tuesday evening.

The Northern Alliance Premier Division outfit offered a stern test for Nathan Beckham and Andrew Waugh’s side, who weren’t at their best with the opposition creating plenty of problems throughout.

However, the latest win adds to earlier pre-season victories over Newcastle Benfield and West Allotment Celtic.

Stobswood Welfare will be hosting Albion in the next friendly on Friday night.

Ryton & Crawcrook Albion recorded a 1-0 win over West Allotment Celtic in their latest pre-season friendly on Saturday.

Lewis Henry’s strike midway through the second half was enough for Nathan Beckham and Andrew Waugh’s side in a mostly even encounter on the 4G pitch at Coach Lane.

After two matches (and two victories) against Northern League First Division sides, Albion travel to Alliance sides AFC Newbiggin on Tuesday and Stobswood Welfare on Friday as the build-up towards the new season continues.

A brace from Aaron Costello earned Ryton & Crawcrook Albion a 2-1 victory at Newcastle Benfield on Tuesday night in the first pre-season match ahead of the 2023-24 season.

Costello deservedly headed Albion into the lead at Sam Smith’s Park midway through the first half from a corner. The First Division outfit levelled early in the second period with a lovely finish from No.3 and then threatened to turn things around, but Costello latched onto a Scott Bamborough ball on the halfway line to run free and cooly slot the winner 20 minutes from the end.

Nathan Beckham and Andrew Waugh’s side next travel to nearby Coach Lane to face West Allotment Celtic on Saturday, with kick off scheduled at 2.15pm.

The draw for July’s RACA 100 Club was held on Saturday.

The winners are:

•  No.19 W Graham £100
•  No.52 N Beckwith £75
•  No.15 M Hands £25

Congratulations to the lucky winners! The next draw is scheduled for August 5, 2023.

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

A very big thank you to everyone who has given up their time to help tidy up Kingsley Park on Saturday.

Weeding, painting, scrubbing, jet washing, repairing, litter-picking… all being done by our brilliant supporters! Thank you!

We will have follow-up sessions most weekends leading up to the new season to finish anything outstanding.