FT RACA 1 FC HARTLEPOOL 2 Attendance 204
Albion’s poor form against the division’s top clubs continued as second placed FC Hartlepool completed the double over RACA at the Oldhaulage Stadium. Despite an improved performance from the hosts, Pools led 1-0 at half time from a Fin Smith goal. Rhys McLeod levelled early in the second half only for Smith to grab what would be the winner for Hartlepool just two minutes later.
RACA– Corkhill, Fletcher (Higgins 71), Dart, Lynch (Whittaker 78), Hayton, Beesley, Hyde, McLeod (Emmerson 71), Anderson, Johnston (Groves-Forbes 58), Calvert. Substitute not used- White
MATCH SUMMARY
FC Hartlepool travelled to the Tyne Valley in second place in the table & having won the last three encounters with RACA, who had a bit of a squad shake up with Nathan Beckham starting new signing Nathan Beesley in defence & having another new midweek acquisition, Ryan Higgins on the bench.
In bright & breezy conditions, it was the visitors who created the first chance in the 9th minute when a clearance landed at the feet of Mikey McGee who, spotting Albion keeper Callum Corkhill off his line, tried to lob him from 30 yards out, but the ball just went over the bar despite dipping rapidly. Corkhill was twice called into action just two minutes later when his defence struggled to deal with an FC cross, the ball falling to Josh Daley whose shot was clawed away by the Ryton keeper, but only to Jake Stott, & his effort was also blocked by Corkhill & Daley could only fire his second bite of the cherry wide. RACA were straight on the attack & broke swiftly, the referee playing a good advantage when Rhys McLeod was fouled, and Louis Calvert was in possession. He found Anderson who skipped goal side of the Pools defence but Harry Carr stretched out a leg to block the Albion man’s shot. Hartlepool were on the scent of an opening goal on 28 minutes when Aidan Chainey & McGee combined, the latter bringing another save out of Corkhill. Fin Smith did open the scoring in 31 minutes from his position on the left flank, he received the ball from Chainey, cutting in and unleashing a shot that beat Corkhill and just crept inside the post despite the difficult angle. That would prove to be the only goal of the half, leaving Ryton with a tough second half assignment
HT RACA 0 FC Hartlepool 1
Whatever was said in the RACA changing room had a positive effect on the players as Anderson went on a fine solo run through a wall of defenders, but he was again thwarted by Carr. Better was to follow in the 52nd minute when Albion’s dominance of the early period of the second half was rewarded with an equaliser. A Corkhill kick upfield saw Callum Johnston lay off Rhys McLeod who had raced forward & he struck home his first goal of the season with the FC defenders trailing in his wake.The Teessiders almost drew level on 55 minutes when the tricky McGee waltzed through the Albion defence, his blocked shot landing to Daley, whose shot struck the underside of the bar, the loose ball being headed by Tom Gavin who couldn’t get enough power on his effort & Corkhill gathered safely. The visitors didn’t have to wait long for their second goal as on 56 minutes a Carr punt upfield was chested down by Chainey to Smith who cut in and slotted home despite the efforts of the defence sliding in to try & block the shot. And Smith had a half chance to grab his hat-trick on 72 minutes when taking advantage of a short back pass to Corkhill, but his chip cleared the bar to the relief of the home fans among the 204 spectators. McGee almost got a third goal for the visitors with a 75th minute shot from inside the box that just went wide of the post, then out of nowhere Louis Calvert hooked a 79th minute clearance goalward which Carr had to dive to push wide and prevent the equaliser.. And as the sun set on the Oldhaulage Stadium in the first game following the clocks going back, so went the chance of RACA salvaging anything from the game & Pool would head down the A19 with the three points. Despite the defeat, RACA stay in 9th place but they are seeing their play-off rivals disappearing in the distance.
FT RACA 1 FC HARTLEPOOL 2
RACA– Corkhill, Fletcher (Higgins 71), Dart, Lynch (Whittaker 78), Hayton, Beesley, Hyde, McLeod (Emmerson 71), Anderson, Johnston (Groves-Forbes 58), Calvert. Substitute not used- White
Saturday’s Other Division 2 Results
Alnwick Town 2 (Clarke, Anderson) Jarrow 2 (Barber, Barnett)
Boldon CA 0 Durham United 2 (Hopkins, Kay)
Esh Winning 2 (Curl, o.g.) Grangetown Boys Club 0
Newcastle University 2 (Storr 2) Billingham Town 1 (Watt)
Redcar Town 6 (Clark 3, Robinson-Coley, Stares, Smith) Tow Law Town 0
Seaham Red Star 0 Sunderland West End 0
Sunderland RCA 3 ( Guy 2, Stanton) Prudhoe YC Seniors 1 (Plunkett)
Yarm & Eaglescliffe 1 (Hillerby) Chester-le-Street Town 0