RACA’s first ever game against Grangetown saw that never say die attitude return as they came from a 0-1 half time deficit to win 2-1. Aaron Bell put the hosts ahead on 8 minutes, but a 74th minute Abu Salim penalty & a goal from the returning Dale Burrell on 81 minutes ensured Ryton got their fifth win of the season (all by a solitary goal), leaving the Teessiders still seeking their first win in the Northern League.

Despite a bright start for RACA, it was Grangetown who took the lead on 8 minutes when a quick free kick was taken & Matty Jenkinson ran forward and found Aaron Bell who blasted home from inside the box. In the 18th minute, Ryton’s Abu Salim on the left flank beat two defenders, then tried to lob ‘Boysie’ keeper Michael Duff from a very tight angle but the stopper prevented the ball from going over his head. There were a few half chances here & there in the remainder of the half but the sides went into the interval with the Teessiders having a one goal lead.

The early part of the second half was a scrappy affair with chances at a premium although Louis Calvert’s 65th minute strike from distance wasn’t too far wide of the Grangetown goal. The turning point in the game came on 73 minutes when Duff upended Calvert in the box & Albion were awarded a penalty which Abu Salim fired in to Duff’s left to make it 1-1. The winner was scored in the 81st minute when Dale Burrell received the ball at the edge of the box, beat his marker and slotted home his second goal of the season. The wind picked up & the rain began to fall but the conditions didn’t dampen the mood in the RACA camp as another three points were picked up on the road & they move up one place in the table to 7th position.

FT GRANGETOWN BOYS CLUB 1 RACA 0 Attendance 270

RACA- Colquhoun, Skivington, Oldfield, Burrell, Harrison, Errington (capt) Lawson, Walker, Calvert (Cairns 88), Bisset (Todd 62), Salim (Armstrong 82).

ENL Pos: 7th

Defender Scott Oldfield has officially re-signed for Albion & should be eligible to play this evening. Oldfield made 31 starts for us last season plus one as a substitute and scored in our 6-1 win at Easington Colliery on that windswept rainy night at the Welfare. Welcome back Scott.

Albion make the long trek to Teesside tomorrow (Tuesday) evening for our first ever game against Grangetown Boys Club who, like Saturday’s opponents Alnwick, were promoted into the Ebac Northern League by finishing runners-up in a feeder league last season. In Grangetown’s case they finished runners up to Darlington United in the North Riding League to earn the right to compete in the Northern League for the first time.

It’s been a difficult transition so far for the ‘Boysie’ with two draws (against Prudhoe at home on the opening day of the season, & away to Billingham Town) and five defeats in their seven games to date, and they sit one from bottom of the table with just Washington below them. Grangetown have scored just five times this season with Jonathan Squire leading the way with two of those five goals, but last season they were prolific scorers, putting nineteen goals past Great Ayton United alone with 10-1 and 9-1 wins in their two league fixtures as well as hammering Redcar Athletic Reserves 8-0. Hopefully they’ll wait until after Tuesday to click back into scoring mode. Grangetown will be our 64th different Northern League opponents since we joined the league back in 2005/06

If you fancy knocking off a new ground on Tuesday evening, the address of the B & W Lifting Stadium is 19 Grange Farm Rd, Middlesbrough TS6 7HP

ALNWICK TOWN 1 RACA 0

Albion failed to score for the first time this season going down 0-1 in a forgettable game at Alnwick. Missing several key players, RACA lacked their usual fizz and were unable to conjure up their expected late finale on this occasion on a disappointing afternoon.

Ryton were awarded a 2nd minute free kick in a dangerous position & Louis Calvert’s effort was only just over the bar, but this wasn’t to be a sign of things to come as both sides struggled to create much in the way of goalmouth action. RACA were the better of the two sides in the first half, but their shots were giving the car park attendant more to do than Alnwick keeper Udochukwu Ugochukwu. Calvert did come close to scoring in the 21st minute when he connected with a Jack Ledger cross that clipped the top of the crossbar & Albion had another half chance to take the lead on the half hour mark when Declan Bisset picked up a poor clearance by Ugochukwu, but his low shot was straight at the Alnwick stopper. Town’s best effort in the first half came just before the interval when Brannon Patterson drilled in a low shot from distance, but Brogan Colquhoun in the Ryton goal was able to smother the ball comfortably.

Alnwick were ahead after only three minutes of the second half, taking full advantage of questionable RACA defending, Patterson being presented with an opportunity to head home from a wayward clearance which he duly did to score his second goal of the season. ‘The Wick’ could have extended their lead on 60 minutes when a punt upfield was collected by Lewis Fairbairn who shrugged off his marker bringing a save from Colquhoun with his legs. Albion responded with more erratic shooting although Jack Errington’s 67th minute header from a Ledger cross landed on top of the crossbar after Ugochukwu tried to palm the ball out for a corner. Daniel Craggs’ 69th minute free kick cleared the Alnwick wall & presented Ugochukwu with more problems than expected as he initially struggled to get the ball under control in the blustery conditions but with Calvert bearing down on him, was finally able to gather it safely. Alnwick captain Yannick Aziakonou gave cause for alarm to the Ryton defence, going on a fine 79th minute run, beating four defenders before Matthew Harrison deflected his shot with a fine diving block. And that was it as Ryton went down to a second defeat on the road following a poor second half showing, dropping down to 8th place in the table. Next up is a trip to another promoted side to the Northern League, Grangetown Boys Club on Tuesday night.

FT ALNWICK TOWN 1 RACA 0 Attendance 62

RACA– Colquhoun, Grieveson, Ledger, Skivington, Errington (capt), Harrison, Lawson (Todd 67), Craggs, Calvert, Bisset (Adotey 73), Salim

ENL Pos: 8th.

Once again RACA have been drawn at home in a cup tie. This time we host Darlington Town in one of the nine ties in the Preliminary Round of the Durham Challenge Cup, with that game expected to be played on Wednesday 11th September, meaning our home game v Redcar Town gets moved to a week later. We actually play our league game at Darlington on the Saturday beforehand so the sides will have learnt about each other before the cup game at Kingsley Park.

Keeper Tom Dawson has left the Albion & joined neighbours Prudhoe YC Seniors. Dawson played 26 times for RACA during the 22/23 and 23/24 seasons but might well be back at Kingsley Park next Friday for the Tyne Valley derby as we host Prudhoe. We wish Tom best wishes in his future career.

ALBION HEAD NORTH TO ALNWICK

RACA’s next opponents are Alnwick Town, last season’s Northern Alliance League runners up to Wallington who return to the Northern League after being relegated from Division 2 at the end of the 2017/18 season. It’s been a steady start so far for Town sitting in 17th place but they have only picked up a solitary home point in their three games in NE66 so far. Their one win this season was a 4-2 win at Bedford Terrace against Billingham Town and they’ve also gained two draws in their six games to date. Joint top scorers are Euan Potts & Max Anderson with two goals a piece & like RACA, Alnwick have scored nine goals in their opening six games.

RACA’s Abu Salim now leads the way in the scoring stakes with two goals following his penalty conversion at Sunderland RCA on Tuesday, with seven other players on a goal each & all will be hoping to add to their tally at a ground that Albion have had some sizeable wins at over the years. SJP was the venue for the then Ryton FC’s first away game in the Northern League, way back in 2005, which we won 3-1. Our record Northern League away victory was an 8-1 win at Alnwick back in the 2006/07 campaign, while more recently in the 2014/15 season Albion won 6-0 at St James’ with Dan Robinson netting four times. However recent matches with the Northumbrians has seen fair poorly, picking up a solitary point in our last five matches so we could do with ending that sequence on Saturday.

If you fancy the trip north to what’s always a popular away day the address is Weavers Way, Alnwick, NE66 1BG. Kick off 3pm, hope to see you there

SUNDERLAND RCA 2 RACA 3

Albion clinched all 3 points at a drizzly Meadow Park with a stoppage time goal from Louis Calvert, twice coming from behind in a strange game they were a bit fortunate to win. Josh Skivington scored Ryton’s first at the end of a first half they barely had a sniff in, while Abu Saker converted an 89th minute penalty to what look like rescuing a point before Calvert’s fantastic winner in the 92nd minute, the win putting Albion up to 4th place.

In RACA’s first competitive game at Meadow Park since 2011 they found themselves under the cosh from the start & fell behind on 11 minutes when Alberto Dumba, whose pace was to give the Albion defence problems throughout the half, sped past two markers & slotted home past the advancing Brogan Colquhoun. It wasn’t far off being 2-0 just five minutes later when Luke McCormack took advantage of a defensive mix up & stabbed the ball goal-wards but Colquhoun was just able to scramble to it. McCormack was in the thick of the action again on the half hour mark, collecting a wayward Ryton header but his shot deflected just wide. From the resultant corners there was panic in the Albion box as the yellow wall of defenders tried desperately to clear the ball, finally getting it clear after a few scares. Sunderland came even closer to doubling the lead on 42 minutes when McCormack drilled a Dumba cross against the post, then Dan Maw saw his effort from the rebound hit the bar as Colquhoun got a foot to Maw’s shot. RCA would have felt short changed only going into the interval only 1-0 up, but out of nowhere Josh Skivington broke clear to fire home an equaliser on the stroke of half time racing past his marker to slot home past the hitherto under employed Joe Wilson to change the dynamics of the half time team talks.

The second half was a complete reverse of the first with RACA looking up for it & Sunderland RCA lacking a spark. Charlie Grieveson saw his 52nd header pushed over the bar by Wilson & Skivington also hit the bar in the 61st minute albeit from narrowly offside. Albion were camped in the RCA half, winning a succession of corners midway through the half but in a similar vein to Skivington’s first half goal, Sunderland’s Dan Maw, totally against the run of play, broke forward & made the most of a defensive slip on the wet surface & coolly drilled a low shot past the Albion keeper to restore their lead. Ryton pressed for the equaliser & it came courtesy of the penalty spot when referee Mr Cairney awarded a spot kick after a foul on Matthew Harrison. Abu Salim who’d recently came on as a substitute fired home high up in the net giving Wilson little chance of getting to it & it was parity restored at 2-2. A point salvaged? Not a bit of it as the Ryton players pushed on for a winner & in stoppage time Louis Calvert opened his account for RACA in stoppage time poking home from close range to claim the three points.

FT SUNDERLAND RCA 2 RACA 3 Attendance 80

RACA- Colquhoun, Grieveson, Ledger, Luke, (Craggs 50), Errington, Harrison, Skivington (Lawson 74), Lynch, Calvert, Bisset (Salim 73), Todd (53)

ENL Pos: 4th.

RACA’s next match is a league fixture at Sunderland RCA having not played against the Wearsiders in a competitive fixture in 14 seasons, although we have had two recent pre-season friendlies against them. RCA had an absolutely awful 2023/24 season, finishing rock bottom in division one with a paltry five points, & after just five games into 2024/25 they have already surpassed that total thanks to two home victories over Boldon CA on the opening day of the campaign & against Redcar Town on Saturday. In between those two wins came defeats against the two Billingham sides & Chester le Street United. Oddly enough, this fixture will be Sunderland’s fifth home game in their first six fixtures, & the last time we played at their place, excluding friendlies, being in the 2010/11 season in the Durham Challenge Cup when we were trounced 0-6. That said we have won every league game at Meadow Park (four to date) plus an FA Cup Preliminary Round tie there in 2009, though older fans will remember them as Kennek Ryhope up until 2006

Back to the present & RCA currently sit in 14th place having scored seven goals with Callum Hughes leading the way with two goals. Meanwhile the RACA Golden Boot is off to a muddling start with six players all tied on one goal!

If you fancy heading to Wearside to cheer on Albion, the address is Meadow Park, 22 Beechbrooke, Ryhope, Sunderland SR2 0NZ, kick off on Tuesday being at 7:30pm

Albion played a second home game in four days with Horden Community Welfare today’s opponents & had to settle for a point with Fergus Lynch’s first half goal being cancelled out by a Ben Henderson equaliser.

With Aaron Costello still out injured & key defenders missing, manager Nathan Beckham was forced into making changes to Wednesday’s winning line up. One of this week’s two signings Louis Calvert was to start up front having scored 14 times for Blyth Town last season. The other signing is the enigmatic Michael Baxter, back at the Albion from Chester-le-Street Town.

After a bright opening few minutes from Horden, it was Albion who were to be the better side in the opening 45 minutes. Calvert almost made an instant impact for his new club in the 16th minute when Declan Bissett danced round two defenders then laid the ball to Calvert who was left with a 1 on 1 with Horden keeper Craig Foster, but while he rounded Foster, he put just to much on the ball which trickled out of play before he could tap it into the empty net. The visitors were struggling to clear their lines & kept playing themselves into trouble, much to the frustration of the Horden bench, & they nearly paid fdearly in the 22nd minute when the RACA forwards were able to play through the defence & set up Bissett whose shot was only narrowly wide. The Marras struck back in the 26th when breaking forward & Joshua Home-Jackson let fly from distance forcing RACA keeper Brogan Colquhoun into a fine save but it was to be the hosts who would break the deadlock on 33 minutes when a Bissett free kick was only parried into the path of Fergus Lynch by Foster, & the Ryton captain for the day was able to bundle the ball into the net for his first goal of the season. Taylor Campbell tried his hand for an equaliser when brought out a low diving save from Colquhoun following a Horden free kick on 43 minutes but it was to be Ryton who deservedly lead at the interval.

Horden were a more potent force in the second half & drew level on 61 minutes when Ben Riding flicked on a Home-Jackson throw in, & Ben Henderson was there to fire home from close range. Other than a half hearted penalty claim from each side, there wasn’t much in the way of real chances to concern either keeper & the points were shared, Albion dropping down to 7th in the table as a result of the dropped points. Next up it’s a midweek trip to Wearside to face Sunderland RCA.

FT RACA 1 HORDEN CW 1 Attendance 162

RACA- Colquhoun, Grieveson, Ledger, Luke, Harrison (Lawson 57 (Symons 83)), Lynch (capt) Walker (Cairns 87), Skivington, Calvert (Salim 75), Bissett (Todd 75), Groves-Forbes.

ENL Pos: 7th.