CHESTER LE STREET TOWN 0 RACA 2
Albion completed the double over the Cestrians for the first time since 2008-09 winning 2-0 at Moor Park in a game between two out of form sides. Glenn Caygill and Matty Hayton scored in the first half, with Ryton having been much the better side in the opening 45 minutes. The second half saw the hosts come into it more but in reality it was a poor spectacle littered with fouls and stoppages but most importantly RACA came away with the three points.
RACA- Colquhoun, Skivington, Ledger, Page (Harrison 81), Oldfield, Caygill, Dart (Fletcher 87), Grieveson, Hayton (Hoggins 71), Groves-Forbes (Baxter 46), McLeod (Lawson 78)
MATCH SUMMARY
Albion travelled to Moor Park hoping to add to Chester-le-Street’s current woes, not having won in their last eight games. Missing top scorer Louis Calvert through illness RACA welcome back Matty Harrison on the subs bench as emergency cover. In spring-like conditions the visitors settled into the game better, Morgan Dart stabbing a ball narrowly wide n the 7th minute in the games’ first half chance. The same player had Town keeper Alex Lawrence scrambling across his line two minutes later as his cross swung dangerously near to the top corner of the Cestrians’ net. RACA’s pressure paid off on 17 minutes when Josh Skivington’s diligence paid off as he found a gap in the Chester defence to find Joe Groves-Forbes whose cross was fumbled by Lawrence, the ball landing to Glenn Caygill who headed home from close range. Matty Hayton tried to double Albion’s lead on 24 minutes with a shot from outside the box that Lawrence was pleased to see go narrowly wide of his crossbar. Town’s first chance came on 29 minutes when Bailey Judson jinxed his way in to Ryton box and delivered a fine cross to Michael Gray who managed to fire wide from almost point blank range. Thereafter it was Albion on the prowl for a second goal, Cayhill with another powerful header in the 34th minute from a Rhys McLeod free kick, this time over the bar, then McLeod on 39 minutes launched a screamer that was also only inches over the Cestrian bar. Just as many of the 112 spectators were heading for half time refreshments, a fine team goal had RACA 2-0 up. Charlie Grieveson dispossessed a Chester defender & found Luke Page who played the ball wide to Dart whose cross was headed on by Page for Hayton to volley into the net, Albion had a comfortable half time lead
HT Chester le Street Town 0 RACA 2
If Ryton thought they’d dominate the second half as much as they did the first half, they were to be disappointed although the early omens looked good when McLeod brought a good save out of Lawrence just two minutes after the break. The game became very even but very bitty as referee Mr Groves was forced to exercise his whistle due to the amount of niggly fouls. The hosts still weren’t offering a great deal up front, a move on 63 minutes where Kieran Hall headed a Kieron Beattie cross two yards wide about the most potent offering until Noah Cunningham’s header from a Hall head-on in the 74th minute brough a fine diving save out of Brogan Colquhoun. Chester’s last chance of a consolation came on 90 minutes when once again the Ryton keeper had to push a powerful shot away, this time from Joel Pearson. Meanwhile RACA offered little up front in the second half, instead constantly being thwarted by the linesman’s flag, but nevertheless, held on to take the three points, end the mini winless run and keep slap bang in the hunt for a play-off place.
FT CHESTER LE STREET TOWN 0 RACA 2 Attendance 118