This month’s lucky winners are-
1st prize No 19 W Graham who wins £100
2nd Prize No 36 C Lain who wins £75
3rd Prize No 90 J Le Patourel who wins £25
next draw is on 01/03/2025
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
RACA 1 Alnwick 1
Albion conceded another late late goal to lose two points having led for most of the game thanks to Morgan Dart’s 14 minute goal. However another red card for RACA sprung a hitherto drab second half into an action packed stoppage time as Alnwick levelled through Max Anderson three minutes later and hung on to claim a share of the spoils.
MATCH SUMMARY
In a game lacking the energy and excitement that Wednesday’s game offered, the first half-chance of the game fell to Albion in the 13th minute when Jack Errington headed over a cross from a corner, but almost immediately Morgan Dart put Ryton ahead after Louis Calvert outfought his marker to lay off the ball to Dart who sped forward to drill his shot past Matthew Alexander in the Alnwick goal. It was almost 2-0 from another corner just 2 minutes later when a back header from Calvert was headed off the line by Brandon Patterson. On 26 minutes Calvert had a chance to extend the lead when Dart set him up but he lost his footing as he struck the ball & the weak shot was an easy gather for Alexander. Alnwick were offering very little up front, a tame header from Evan Wilkinson from a 36th minute corner being about the nearest to trouble the RACA goal & the half ended with no goalmouth incidents.
HT RACA 1 Alnwick Town 0
The second half was somewhat lacking in quality with little to concern either goalkeeper, Town with some particularly wayward shooting & only a Richie Hoggins header over Alnwick’s bar from a Michael Baxter 84th minute corner, being of any note until Baxter found himself through on goal on 87 minutes but as he tried to round Alexander, the Wick keeper snatched the ball from him and the chance to wrap up the points had gone. The game was to have an eventful ending when Albion’s Charlie Grieveson was given a straight red for a cynical trip on Yannick Aziakondu & the injured party was to have a say in Alnwick’s equaliser when he set up Max Anderson whose shot found the back of the Ryton net on 90 minutes as the visitors took full advantage of their numerical supremacy. To RACA’s credit they went straight on the offensive rather than protect the point, and Matty Todd wasn’t far off target with a powerful shot a minute into a stoppage time period that was in stark contrast to the rest of the half as it was incident packed. Usmain Ogidan brought a low save out of Albion’s Brogan Colquhoun on 95 minutes, but it was Jordan Dobie who was to be Alnwick’s late hero by preventing a certain Hoggins goal as his shot bounced off the prostate Alexander and looked destined for the net until the Wick substitute hoofed the ball off the line to rescue a point for Alnwick.
Disappointment as RACA surrender two more points late on & also in picking up a fourth red card in five games. Alnwick’s unbeaten run in NE40 extends to six games as Albion drop back out of the play off positions.
RACA 1 ALNWICK TOWN 1 Attendance 135
RACA- Colquhoun, Skivington, Oldfield, Lynch (Todd 86), Errington, Caygill, Page, McLeod (Grieveson 60 s/o), Calvert (Hoggins 78), Dart (McCabe 82), Hayton (Baxter 67)
Alnwick Town visit the Oldhaulage Stadium on Saturday after an absence of eight years while they have been in the Northern Alliance. The Wick won the reverse fixture at St James’ Park in August, Brannan Patterson scoring the only goal of the game, and for what it’s worth we haven’t beaten Town in Crawcrook since the 2012/13 season. After a moderate start to the season, Alnwick’s form has vastly improved since Christmas, winning four of five games since & the one they didn’t win, they threw away a two goal lead against the University at Essity Park to go down 2-3. However RACA are in decent form too with a 100% record in 2025 with the carrot of possibly moving up to 4th place by Saturday evening. Kick off for this one is 3pm so hope to see a few of you at HQ on Saturday. Howay the RACA!
RACA moved back into the final play-off berth with a 4-1 victory over Sunderland RCA at the Oldhaulage Stadium tonight. Goals from Morgan Dart, Louis Calvert, Glenn Caygill and Fergus Lynch earned the victory with Jackson Ward getting Sunderland’s goal. The only downside was another red card for a Ryton player, this time for Luke McCabe on his home debut, Albion’s third dismissal in the last four games, but it’s 10 points from the last 12 available and a great start to 2025.
MATCH SUMMARY
Sunderland RCA made their first visit to Ryton since the 2010/11 season in a Division One fixture which they won 4-0. Times have changed since then & Albion were looking to achieve the double over the Wearsiders having won 3-2 at Meadow Park earlier in the season, knowing the win would move them back into a play-off place.
Albion stated their intent in the first 90 seconds when after some midfield head tennis, Louis Calvert sprayed the ball out to the wing where Morgan Dart cut inside & his shot looked certain to go in having beaten Sunderland keeper Philip Mills, but a fine goal-line clearance from Keigan Turns prevented the early opening goal. The hosts should have gone ahead in the fourth minute when a quick move forward culminated in Josh Skivington crossing to Dart who could only strike his shot off the bar from five yards, before the ball was scrambled clear. Dart was to redeem himself in the 14th minute when he broke the deadlock. Matt Hayton advanced down the right wing, cut in and fired in a low shot which Mills got a hand to, but the ball ran to Dart who slotted home from close range despite the attentions of two defenders. Three minutes later and Ryton doubled the advantage following a clearance that was lumped forward. Calvert took full advantage of his marker Adam Cocks losing his footing, cutting in and sliding the ball past Mills to take his tally for the season to 18. RCA were beginning to get more of the ball following the second goal & on 33 minutes pulled a goal back. Sam Spenceley’s cross was parried out by Colquhoun, but it was Sunderland forward Jackson Ward who was first to the ball & he tucked the ball into the corner of the net to make it 2-1. However Albion restored the two goal advantage in the 41st minute when the RCA defence made a complete Horlicks of clearing Fergus Lynch’s corner, a mis-directed header falling to Glenn Caygill wo stabbed the ball home from three yards.
HT RACA 3 Sunderland RCA 1
The second half started off with RACA searching for a fourth goal within seconds of the kick off with Calvert breaking down the left flank, lobbing Mills in the Sunderland goal, but also clearing the bar. Only a minute later & a dipping shot from the ‘Real Reds’ number 10 Daniel Maw from outside the box, forced Colquhoun to tip the ball over his bar, shortly followed by a Chris Thompson shot that the Albion keeper had to smother as Ryton went through a sloppy spell. The hosts tightened up again and on 70 minutes put the game beyond the Wearsiders with a gem of a goal from Fergus Lynch who managed to curl the ball in the top corner of Mills’ goal almost from the touchline giving the RCA stopper no chance at all. If that was intended, it was one of the best goals witnessed at Kingsley Park for many a year. Ironically Lynch was instantly substituted for Roman Sparks, the recent Prudhoe signing to make his Albion debut. Another substitute, Matty Todd could have made it 5-1 on 73 minutes, breaking clear of the RCA defenders only to strike the ball into the side netting with just Mills to beat. Sunderland were given the faintest glimmer of hope of salvaging something from the game when in the 82nd minute RACA were reduced to ten men. Luke McCabe was given a straight red card after a lunge on Alberto Dumba who in fairness got straight up from the tackle, but referee Mr Marriner wasted little time in dismissing McCabe to the astonishment of the home fans. However the visitors were unable to make any inroads to the deficit, Callum Hughes’ shot from distance over the bar on 84 minutes being the closest scare for Ryton. Louis Calvert was much closer to scoring in the 87th minute striking the RCA post from a free kick, but there were to be no further goals & Albion ran out comfortable winners in the end.
The three points propel us up two places into 5th, leapfrogging both Thornaby and Chester-le-Street United and back into a play-off berth.
FT RACA 4 SUNDERLAND RCA 1 Attendance 180
RACA- Colquhoun, Skivington, Oldfield, McCabe (s/o), Caygill, Errington, Lynch (Sparks 71), Page (Todd 72), Calvert, Dart (Baxter 61), Hayton (Hoggins 65)
Next up is our third attempt to host Sunderland RCA on Wednesday evening when we hopefully welcome the Wearsiders for a re-arranged game at NE40 after a gap of 14 years since they were last up. The clubs did meet at Meadow Park earlier this season where RACA edged out the Wearsiders 3-2 with goals from Calvert, Skivington and Salim earning the three points. Following relegation last season RCA have had a disappointing season this time round too, sitting down in 20th place in the table but at least saw an upturn in fortunes in December, although 2025 didn’t start well with a 4-1 defeat to surprise package Chester-le-Street United in their only game to date this side of Hogmanay. Sunderland will go into the game relatively fresh not having played on Saturday while Albion are still buzzing from that win at Horden. Kick off is at the usual 7:30pm. Keep up to date with developments via our Twitter feed, the Northern League website & on here. Here’s hoping for a go-ahead this time & Howay the RACA!!
Albion inflicted Division 2 leaders, Horden’s first league defeat at The Welfare this season with a thrilling 3-2 victory. Nathan Beckham was forced to blood recent signings Luke McCabe and Luke Page in the starting XI, plus had latest signing Michael Baxter, in his third stint at the club, on the bench. Despite falling a goal behind, RACA went into the interval level with a Rhys McLeod goal equaliser, and pushed on in the second half with goals from Louis Calvert and Matty Hayton. Horden made it 3-2 to ensure a nervy ending but Ryton held on for a fine victory
MATCH SUMMARY
RACA finally got to play their first competitive game of 2025 as they travelled to leading side Horden four weeks after the last game, the 1-1 draw at Redcar Town. With Dale Burrell likely out for the rest of the season, debuts were handed to the two Lukes, McCabe and Page. Both sides looked intent on going for it from the whistle & Horden brought a save out of Albion keeper Brogan Colquhoun within 90 seconds of kick off when Chris Wallace shot from the edge of the box following a Taylor Campbell free kick. Ryton reciprocated in the 7th minute when Louis Calvert, in the middle of some Albion pressure squared the ball to Rhys McLeod who struck the ball low, forcing Craig Foster into a fine save, diving low to push the ball on to his right hand post where it bounced back into his arms. But it was to be the hosts who opened the scoring in the 9th minute when Craig Hutchinson fired home from close range following a corner that was knocked on by Scott Close. RACA came close to levelling on 20 minutes when breaking forward, Calvert shrugging off the attentions of two defenders to launch a shot that Robson acrobatically tipped over the bar. Four minutes later and the equaliser came following a sweet move involving Matty Hayton, Calvert and McLeod which saw Calvert’s pass dummied by Luke Page and McLeod score his sixth goal of the season with a left footer that rocketed past Robson. The remainder of the half was a high octane end to end affair without any great scares and while Ryton probably shaded it, the Marras were presented with a decent chance with what was to be the last kick of the half. Ben Riding was fouled on the edge of the Albion box & Horden were awarded a free kick which had every Ryton player in defensive mode but Campbell’s free kick proved to be an anti-climax as the ball sailed harmlessly over the bar.
HT Horden CW 1 RACA 1
RACA got off to a great start to the second half when Jack Errington’s booted clearance on 47 minutes, bounced over two Horden defenders and to the feet of Calvert who sped forward, rounded the keeper and slotted home from an awkward angle despite the efforts of another two backpedalling defenders. While the hosts were now creating most of the chances, it was RACA who were to extend their lead on 69 minutes when a Luke McCabe free kick was headed on by Page to Hayton who was first to react & blasted home past a statuesque defence to make it 3-1. As Ryton’s exertions began to take their toll, Horden became the dominant side & on 81 minutes they pulled a goal back, Nathaniel Skidmore’s cross-field ball finding Taylor Campbell who volleyed past Colquhoun to put his side firmly back in the game. Campbell almost scored again two minutes later but this time his low drive was pushed out for a corner by Colquhoun. Marras substitute Martin Fowler also had a chance to get his side level on 88 minutes when he ran on to Ben Henderson’s forward ball, but his attempted dink past the advancing Ryton keeper was blocked and held by Colquhoun. A minute from time at the other end, Michael Baxter had half a chance to mark his return to RACA with a goal when he rounded the Horden stopper but the ball ran to an acute angle & his effort went wide. Horden pressed on for the leveller in stoppage time but Albion held out to claim a superb three points in a result that changes the dynamics a little at the top end of the table as Horden drop to third place despite this being only their second defeat of the season.
FT HORDEN CW 1 RACA 2 Attendance 77
RACA- Colquhoun, Skivington, Oldfield, McCabe, Caygill, Errington, McLeod (Hoggins 90), Page, Calvert s/o 90 (Baxter 58), Dart, Hayton (Todd 83)
After almost a month without a competitive game, the last fixture RACA would want is an away trip to the division’s top side, but that’s what Nathan Beckham’s team face on Saturday as they face Horden CW at the Welfare Ground. The ‘Marras’ have lost just one league game out of the twenty nine they’ve played this season & look nailed on to get promoted. The two sides drew 1-1 in the reverse fixture in August, Fergus Lynch netting for Albion, and Ben Henderson, who has also scored in Horden’s last three games, getting the equaliser. We’ve also met in the cup this season with RACA winning our Durham Challenge Cup tie at the Oldhaulage Stadium in October by 2-1, Rhys McLeod & Matty Harrison on target for us and David Doughty getting the goal for the East Durham outfit. Hoping the game goes ahead despite Friday’s forecast of strong winds & if you want to head down the A19 to cheer on the Albion, the address for your sat nav is Welfare Park, 2 Eden St, Horden, Peterlee SR8 4DH. Howay the RACA!!
A date for your diary, we have a new date for our home game v Esh Winning following Saturday’s postponement. It’s been scheduled for Wednesday 19th February with a 7:30pm kick off.
Today’s Northern League fixture against Esh Winning at the Oldhaulage Stadium has fallen foul of the freezing weather after a referee’s inspection.
Details of the date of the re-arranged game will be announced in due course.
RACA host fellow play off hopefuls Esh Winning at the Oldhaulage Stadium on Saturday in a game that hopefully should beat the weather. The Stags recently had the shock of seeing manager Bobby Coltman and assistant Shane Gavin leave the third placed club to join another play off hopeful in Thornaby, the club responding by installing Jonny Swift as player manager for the rest of the season. Like ourselves, Esh Winning haven’t played a competitive game since 28th December and had just seen their promotion push falter a little with two defeats in their last three games, all played at West Terrace. RACA won this season’s encounter there too back in early August with the now departed Matty Harrison netting the only goal of the game. Recent encounters have been very much in Albion’s favour with six of the last seven results going our way, the other being a 3-3 draw. A win for the Albion might well be welcomed by a few other play off hopefuls as it has looked for a while than only one play off place was up for grabs with the top four in the table pulling a little clear, but a home win would pull the Stags back into the mix a little, & more importantly boost our chances of reaching to top 5.
Kick off is 3pm if you can make it, & hopefully you can, to cheer on the lads to a perfect start to 2025. Howay the RACA!
