FT RACA 1 TOW LAW TOWN 2
An Albion side lacking the spark shown in latter pre season friendlies lost the opening fixture of the 26/27 as they failed to manage the breezy conditions against Tow Law. A goal in each half from Harvey Walsh sent the visitors back down the A68 with a deserved win in a game that won’t linger long in the memory, at least not for Ryton fans. Louis Calvert converted a late penalty to halve the deficit but a spot kick was frankly the only way RACA looked like they’d score as the team had one of those collective off days.
MATCH REPORT
A new season and an impressive new kit for the squad, but it was to be RACA who were off colour in this unremarkable game in which the hosts failed to continue the promise of pre-season performances. What was familiar was the strong westerly which timed its arrival to precision with the start of the season at The Oldhaulage.
Ryton had the breeze behind them but failed to utilise it, the opening period being devoid of any goalmouth action as the sides cancelled each other out. A Louis Calvert free kick on 10 minutes saw the sting taken out of it by the Tow Law wall, the ball gently rolling to Lawyers keeper Dan Staples being as good as it got. Staples was next called into action on 27 minutes following a Ryton break on the right wing by Nathan Beesley who found Callum Johnston, but his shot, while on target, lacked the venom to trouble the Lawyers captain too much.
The breakthrough came on 35 minutes from a Tow Law free kick out on the left. Harvey Walsh floated a curling shot into the box, the flight deceived Callum Corkhill in the Albion goal, and the ball nestled in the top corner; a fine goal in a half that scarcely deserved it. Ryton had a golden chance to level just three minutes later when Beesley barged past two defenders & found Rhys Hutchinson, but the debutant blasted over from close range. And that was it for a 45 minutes in which the ball spent as much time out of play as it did on the park, the wind not helping of course, but surely the second half would see an improvement.
HT RACA 0 Tow Law Town 1
A hitherto uneventful second half sprung into life in the 63rd minute when a Tow Law clearance was picked up by Johnston who floated the ball back into the visitors’ box, Glenn Caygill heading the ball to Louis Calvert almost on the goal line but with the keeper stranded, his tap in was thwarted by Harry Laviolette who just beat him to the ball & danger was averted. The ball was soon up the other end with a 65th minute run from Lawyers substitute Charlie Bunton up the right hand touchline, laying the ball to Reece Brown who in turn found Walsh whose initial shot was blocked by Beesley, but the ball fell kindly back to him and he slotted home to make it 2-0. In the 78th minute, another Tow Law substitute, Adam Metcalfe tried to emulate Walsh’s first goal with a strike from a free kick from 35 yards out, forcing Corkhill to back-pedal and push the ball over the bar for a corner. Ryton meanwhile looked as if they’d need a set piece to open their account, and on 86 minutes were awarded a free kick just outside the Tow Law box, but Calvert struck it beyond the crossbar. Albion were given the ultimate set piece lifeline just into stoppage time when Metcalfe was adjudged to have brought down Johnston just inside the box & referee Chris Shield pointed to the penalty spot. Calvert stepped up & sent Staples the wrong way to make it 2-1 but there was precious little time to get the equaliser & Albion weren’t to trouble the Tow Law goal further.
FT RACA 1 TOW LAW TOWN 2
Not the start Albion were after in either result or performance but it’s a short wait to get things back on track with a trip to FC Hartlepool on Tuesday evening.
RACA– Corkhill, Beesley, Wilson (Fletcher 70), Bailey (Lynch 62), Caygill, Hayton, Lawson (Basham 83), Grieveson (Bewley 62), Calvert, Hutchinson (Elliott 62), Johnston (Subs-all used)