Just a quick reminder that Albion and Newcastle Blue Star meet for the second time in a week on Easter Monday with a 12:00pm kick off at Kingsley Park. It promises to be a good occasion with hopefully a sizeable Bank Holiday crowd and we’d love to see you there if you can make it to cheer RACA on to a third straight win.
Both Ryan Smith and Paul Dudgeon have left Albion to join Division 2 rivals. Smith who played 11 times for Albion this season scoring in the 7-1 win over Brandon United has gone to Bedlington Terriers, while Dudgeon who made ten appearances this campaign has gone to Newcastle Blue Star and might be eligible to face us on Monday. We wish Ryan & Paul good fortune at their respective clubs.
RACA put in a solid defensive display to come away from Denton Road with a 2-0 victory in the first game of the Easter double header with Newcastle Blue Star. Aaron Costello scored his 30th goal of the season after just 9 minutes, taking advantage of a defensive mix up to slot home. Both sides had goals ruled out for offside before Lucas Hildreth scored a superb solo goal running rings round two Star defenders before firing the ball in the back of the net to ensure Albion took a two goal lead into the interval.
The second half saw Blue Star camped in the RACA half as they pressed to reduce the deficit but Albion held firm repelling the home side’s attempts to score despite having Costello sin binned for the final few minutes of the match. That’s four unbeaten for Ryton whose next game is the reverse fixture with Blue Star on Easter Monday
FT NEWCASTLE BLUE STAR 0 RACA 2 Attendance 198
After the disappointment of Saturday’s late postponement at Bedlington, Albion make the relatively short trip to second placed Newcastle Blue Star for our first game of a quick double header against them. This was originally the Boxing Day fixture that was called off & is now being played at Scotswood, Denton Rd, Newcastle upon Tyne NE15 7HB kick off at 7:30pm if you fancy cheering on the Black & Blue.
This afternoon’s Ebac Northern League fixture at Bedlington Terriers was postponed due to unsafe playing areas at Welfare Park.
With no official inspection organised, the decision was made just an hour before kick off by the match official.
A new date will be announced in due course.
Next up for RACA is a trip to the Dr Pitt to face second placed Bedlington Terriers who have already comfortably beaten us at HQ with a 3-1 victory back in October, a game in which Alfa Djalo got our goal. The Terriers have won their last four league games without conceding a goal so we have our work cut out.
If you’re wanting to head up to Bedlington to see if RACA can build on Tuesday night’s win over Washington, the address is Doctor Pit Park, Park Rd, Bedlington NE22 5DP
Albion ended their run of winless games with a hard fought victory over Washington at the Ford Hub. It looked as if it would be a breeze for RACA as they raced into a 2-0 lead after just five minutes with Aaron Costello scoring both goals to take his season’s tally to twenty-nine. But instead of increasing the goal tally, Albion allowed Washington to steadily back into the game, keeper Brogan Colquhoun forced into a great save on 34 minutes as the Mechanics tried pushed for a breakthrough. Although Albion held on to the 2-0 lead at half time, the advantage was halved just three minutes into the second half when Nathan Nkunku scored his fourth goal of the season for Washington. As the home side increased the pressure on RACA, they got a deserved equaliser just before the hour mark when Matthew Dawson netted his first of the season. The Albion fans that made the trip were fearing the worst, but Fergus Lynch was on hand to restore RACA’s lead on 84 minutes. That seemed to take the wind out of Washington’s sails & Ryton held on for their first win in six games and move up one place to 11th
FT WASHINGTON 2 RACA 3 Attendance 85
Albion’s next game is away to Washington on Tuesday night but please note this game is at the Ford Hub, not at The Mechanics’ usual home at the Northern Playing Fields. We’ve not met Washington yet this season with the home fixture to be played in April but our opponents aren’t in the best of form having lost ten of their last twelve games and they currently sit second bottom of the table.
If you’re planning on heading down to watch the lads the post code of the Ford Hub is Keelmans Lane, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear, SR4 0HB
RACA played out a second 1-1 draw against Billingham opposition in five days, this time a home draw against Synthonia in an eventful game of two halves. Synners who had seen their sixteen match unbeaten run ended last Saturday deservedly led 1-0 at half time against a disjointed Albion who sat very deep throughout the 45 minutes. Declan Brown was the scorer of Billingham’s goal in the 25th minute, and the Albion rearguard had a busy time with Brogan Colquhoun pulling off several saves & Oli Symons heading a goalbound effort off the line. The second half saw Ryton play much more aggressively & levelled when awarded a penalty in the 48th minute following a foul by Sam Taylor, the newly signed goalkeeper on loan from York City. Aaron Costello duly converted the spot kick to notch his personal goals total to 27 this season. It was Taylor who was the busier keeper throughout the second period but RACA were unable to score a second goal and the points were shared. Synners scorer Brown had a bitter-sweet day as he was somewhat controversially dismissed in stoppage time, but it was too late in the day for Albion to capitalise on the numerical advantage.
Albion’s blip continues with no wins in five games now.
Please note that RACA’s home game against Newcastle Blue Star on April 1st (Easter Monday)has been changed to a 12pm kick off.
