Prudhoe YC Seniors took the Tyne Valley derby honours with a 3-1 win on a miserable night for 10-man Ryton & Crawcrook Albion.

Despite the heavy rain, a season-high crowd of 422 packed into Kingsley Park for the eagerly awaited first league derby of the season with RACA going into the match with three consecutive wins and their local rivals losing their last three.

Ryton, who had to change jerseys to the away yellow tops due to a kit clash, dominated the clear cut chances in the first half, but it was the visitors who controlled the second period and went in front five minutes into it through former RACA-man Bradley Lowes. Ben Dibb-Fuller then doubled the advantage just after the hour mark.

Fergus Lynch gave Albion a lifeline but a straight red card for Aaron Costello with 15 minutes to go all-but ended any hopes of a comeback for Nathan Beckham’s side.

Kyle Cockburn – another ex-Ryton player – wrapped up the win late on for Prudhoe, who leapfrog Albion in the Ebac Northern League Division Two table.

RACA host Penrith in the Isuzu FA Vase Second Round Qualifying next Saturday.

Attendance: 422

RACA Man of the Match: Michael Baxter

RACA: Libotte, Groves-Forbes, Symons (Oldfield 56), Caygill, Esdaille, Lynch, Craggs (Lowery 84), Hoggins (Salim 56), Costello, McLeod (Skivington 53), Baxter (Smith 84).

Prudhoe: Cassap, Graham, Russell, Willoughby, Below, Plunkett, Dibb-Fuller, Lowes, Cockburn, Scott, Morris.