NL2 season ends

Birtley Town’s penalty shoot-out win in the Ebac Northern League Division Two Play-Off Final over Billingham Town on Monday marked the end of the 2022-23 campaign.

The Hoops will join champions Boro Rangers in Division One next season while at the other end, the bottom three – Willington, Sunderland West End and Washington – are liable to relegation to Step 7.

The final league table:

Albion secure survival with final day win

Ryton & Crawcrook Albion secured their Ebac Northern League Divison Two status with a 4-2 victory over Easington Colliery at Kingsley Park on the final day of the season.

Albion fell behind after Dominic Moan’s 11th-minute penalty but turned the game around with a quick-fire double before the half-hour mark thanks to Antonio Agostinho (27) and Thomas Ions (29). The visitors leveled on the hour mark through Gary Shaw but substitute Harvey Walsh (66) scored two minutes after coming on before Aaron Costello (87) wrapped up the three points for Nathan Beckham’s side in the closing stages.

The win means Albion finish with 41 points from 40 games and can’t now be overtaken by the any of the bottom three sides – Washington, Sunderland West End or Willington – who are all “liable to relegation”.

Albion secure vital win against Jarrow

Ryton & Crawcrook Albion secured a vital 2-0 win over Jarrow at Kingsley Park on Wednesday to go four points clear of the bottom three in the Ebac Northern League Division Two.

In their penultimate game of the season, goals from Thomas Ions from the penalty spot after 20 minutes and another super Josh Skivington strike three minutes later earned RACA a huge win, which also means they climb above their opponents going into their final game against Easington Colliery – also at home – on Saturday.

Albion sit 17th in the table with 38 points from 39 games played and the 1 game left. Jarrow (18th) are a point behind with two games remaining. Washington (19th), who have three games in total and are on 34 points, and Sunderland West End (20th), who have one match left and are on 33 points, currently occupy the relegation zone alongside basement side Willington (21st). The bottom three are “liable for relegation” at the end of the season.

REMAINING FIXTURES:

Thu 20th April: Washington v Bedlington Terriers (7.45pm)

Fri 21st April: Sunderland West End v Redcar Town (7.30pm)

Sat 22nd April: RACA v Easington Colliery, Jarrow v Blyth Town, Washington v Brandon United (all 3pm)

Mon 24th April: Jarrow v Esh Winning (7.30pm)

Tue 25th April: Washington v Blyth Town (7.45pm)

Albion beaten at Birtley

Ryton & Crawcrook Albion were beaten 4-1 by Birtley Town on Saturday in their final away Ebac Northern League Division 2 game of the season.

Albion deservedly went ahead at the Birtley Sports Complex with Josh Skivington’s 14th-minute strike but Glen Hargrave levelled on the half-hour mark. The hosts, who had already qualified for the promotion play offs, nudged ahead at the start of the second half through Matthew Ward before a late brace from Callum Smith (including a penalty) secured the win.

RACA, who sit precariously above the relegation zone in 18th position on 35 points, host Jarrow on Wednesday and Easington Colliery on Saturday in their final fixtures. Sunderland West End (19th) are two points behind with only one game remaining while Washington (20th) are a further two points behind but with four matches left.

Meanwhile, Jarrow are directly above RACA in 17th position in the table on 33 points with a total of three fixtures outstanding including the big head-to-head on Wednesday night.

Ten-man Albion earn draw at Boldon

Ten-man Ryton & Crawcrook Albion earned a 1-1 draw at Boldon on Saturday.

Harvey Walsh’s (3) early strike was cancelled out by the hosts through Christopher Tarn with 20 minutes left after Albion had Kurtis Russell sent off on the hour mark.

The visitors also had Aaron Costello sin binned just before half time.

RACA travel to Birtley Town next on 15 April before finishing the season with home games against Jarrow (19 April) and Easington Colliery (22 April).

100 Club: April 2023 Winners

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

The winners are:

  •  No.97 D Dobson £100
  •  No.39 P Moore £75
  •  No.11 K McDevitt £25

Congratulations to the lucky winners! The next draw is scheduled for May 6, 2023.

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

Albion win against Esh

Defender Kieran Russel scored the only goal as Ryton & Crawvrook Albion picked up a huge 1-0 win over Esh Winning at Kingsley Park on Saturday.

The win is Albion’s first in seven games and lifts them out of the bottom three with five games to go.

Albion denied at the death

An injury-time equaliser from Daniel Lofts for Boro Rangers denied Ryton & Crawcrook Albion a win at the league leaders.

Aaron Costello headed Albion into the lead after 14 minutes in Stokesley and looked set to pick up all three points before the late leveller from Lofts, who had a penalty saved by Thomas Dawson on the stroke of half time.

Dramatic comeback earns Albion draw

Late goals from Charlie Grieveson and Kurtis Russell helped Ryton & Crawcrook Albion salvage a point against Newcastle University at Kingsley Park on Saturday.

The Uni took a 2-0 lead inside the first 12 minutes thanks to Matthew Foster (9) and Jos Veitch (12) and looked set to take all three points until Grieveson (87) and Russell’s (90) late strikes.