RACA’s real final away game of the season against Boldon CA ended up full of incident as Aaron Costello scored a hattrick then got himself sent off, while his teammates pushed on to win the game 5-2 despite the numerical disadvantage, Ryton completing a 100% record at the Hub this season.

Costello had a blistering start to the game as he scored in the 6th, 12th & 17th minutes to put Albion 3-0 up before Dessie da Silva pulled one straight back for Boldon. Costello then got himself dismissed for disputing an offside decision too vehemently in the 37th minute, but Ryton held on to the two goal lead at half time. Regular sharpshooter Robbie Gateshill put Boldon right back into the game on 63 minutes with his fourth goal in five games but RACA kicked on with two goals in as many minutes from Lucas Lowery-Matondo and Rhys McLeod to secure a 5-2 win & keep the hopes of scoring 100 league goals this season and a top ten finish alive. The three points move RACA up to 9th place with one game left to play.

Albion’s last away day in 23/24 season is to face Boldon Community Association but it’s not at the Villa but at the Ford Hub which by the end of tomorrow night’s game will have hosted no less than ELEVEN Boldon home games such have been the issues at their own ground. RACA have won both games played at the Hub this season (v Washington & Sunderland West End) & will be hoping to make it three wins out of three against a Boldon side whose form has collapsed towards the end of the season (no wins in 8 games) which is hardly surprising given their gruelling schedule, with them having to cram ten games into April alone. Kick off is at 7:45pm at the Ford Hub Keelmans Lane, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear, SR4 0HB if you want to cheer on the Black & Blue as we aim for a top ten finish.

Albion were forced to play second fiddle to promotion chasers Easington Colliery at a sunny, dry but still chilly Kingsley Park. The visitors in an unusual strip of pink & white stripes and violet sleeves completely dominated the first half but were let down by some poor finishing and the sides went into the interval goalless. RACA put in a much better performance in the second half but fell behind to an 79th minute goal from Mark Davison, who tapped home from close range from a cross. Ryton raised their game and Rhys McLeod equalised, heading home from a cross on 84 minutes, his 9th goal of the season. But Easington were to have the last laugh as Luke Pearn scored the winning goal on 87 minutes netting after his initial shot had been blocked. Two defeats on the trot for Albion, destined for a mid table finish but the Green (pink/white/violet) Army, in the Tyne Valley in good numbers today, saw their side join Newcastle Blue Star in the play-offs with the other berths to be taken by two from five remaining contenders.

FT RACA 1 EASINGTON COLLIERY 2 Attendance 197

Promotion hopefuls Easington Colliery visit Crawcrook in what was meant to be our final game of the season. As it happens it’s not even our last game at Kingsley Park as the League has ordered Bedlington to play their remaining home games at their opponents grounds meaning we are likely to have our last home game on Monday 29th April against the Terriers. Back to tomorrow’s game & Easington will be keen to avenge the 6-1 defeat we inflicted on them at the Welfare in horrendous conditions in February. It’s not the first time the Colliers have visited NE40 this season as they beat us on penalties in the Brookes Mileson Memorial League Cup. The Green Army are on a fine run of eight games unbeaten and moved into 3rd place after beating Thornaby on Wednesday and have a play off berth in their own hands. Kick off is at 3pm if you fancy cheering on the RACA.

Tonight’s game at Bedlington Terriers has been called off due to the state of the pitch.

Unusually RACA’s next scheduled game is away to Bedlington Terriers on a Thursday evening although reports suggest this isn’t a certainty to go ahead with the Dr Pitt surface still heavy and although it’s forecast to be dry overnight, there is persistent light rain forecast over South East Northumberland tomorrow afternoon. Hopefully the game will go ahead, with 3rd placed Terriers having a dip in form at the business end of the season, but they were impressive in the reverse fixture beating us 3-1 at Kingsley Park back in October. Keep an eye out for updates on social media but if you fancy a rare trip north the address of Bedlington’s ground is Dr Pitt Park, Park Rd, Bedlington NE22 5DP, kick off at 7:45pm

Our end of season 1st team presentation evening takes place on Saturday 18th May at 7pm at the Kingsley Park clubhouse and all supporters are invited to attend. The categories are-

Top Scorer

Director’s Player of the Season

Supporter’s Player of the Season

Manager’s Player of the Season

Players’ Player of the Season and

Young Player of the Season

And a very big thanks goes to Gary and Victoria Stewart for sponsoring the event!

Redcar Town completed the double over Albion winning 2-1 at the Mo Mowlem in windy conditions. The Steelmen’s first goal on 23 minutes came from the most predictable source, top scorer Carl Williams, but their second goal was scored by keeper Jonathan Algie whose wind assisted drop kick ended up in the Ryton net on 41 minutes. Ironically Algie was standing in for regular keeper, big brother Mike Algie who received a fractured eye socket in Redcar’s win at Horden on Wednesday, and surely wouldn’t have expected to be on the scoresheet. Trailing 0-2 at the interval, Glenn Caygill did halve the deficit on 53 minutes, heading home a Rhys McLeod corner, but RACA were unable to get an equaliser & headed home empty handed.

FT REDCAR TOWN 2 RACA 1 Attendance 92

Saturday sees Albion on another trek down the A19 to face Redcar Town at the Mo Mowlem Memorial Ground. Town beat us 3-2 at Kingsley Park last month, so revenge would be sweet & would keep our decent run going. While we were beating Brandon on Wednesday, the Steelmen were beating promotion hopefuls Horden 1-0 at the Welfare so a tough game clearly awaits us. If you are planning on going, the address is the Mo Mowlem Memorial Park 19 Trunk Rd, Redcar TS10 5BW.

RACA made it four wins from five with a comprehensive 5-0 win at Brandon United, with Rhys McLeod netting a hattrick and also seeing his penalty kick saved.

While the full time result looked comfortable enough, up until a minute before half time it was a different story. RACA did lead 1-0 from a 14th minute McLeod goal but the same man saw his 34th minute penalty saved by Liam McGrath. Albion’s distribution throughout the first half was woeful, frequently giving the ball away needlessly, although there were some tenacious and accurate slide tackles going in to recover possession. In addition Brandon had struck the woodwork twice, once from a free kick & the other following a great solo run from Elbasty Ezzeldin. However McLeod’s angled goal just before the interval seemed to be the turning point as starting the second half with a two goal advantage put a spring into the collective Albion step plus presumably whatever was said by the management team during half time. Daniel Craggs got RACA’s third goal on 58 minutes, firing home a free kick from the edge of the box, then a minute later Lucas Lowery-Matondo got his first goal for Ryton to make it 4-0. McLeod completed his hattrick on 65 minutes but the Brandon defence held firm for the rest of the game & RACA were unable to extend the lead but were happy to take three points from a game no-one in the Albion camp expected to go ahead.

FT BRANDON UNITED 0 RACA 5 Attendance 82