Match Preview - Ryton & Crawcrook Albion (H) - Ebac Northern League Division 2 - Saturday 30th August 2025 - Kick-Off 15:00pm

by Jeff King

It's the home team Park View AFC in 4th place in The Ebac Northern League Division 2 who welcome the 11th placed Ryton & Crawcrook Albion to The Riverside on Saturday.

In reality there's not a lot between the two sides this season. Seven places yes, but only four points. Park View with 5 wins, 2 draws and 2 defeats for 17 points whilst R & C Albion have 13 points from 4 wins 1 draw and 4 defeats.

Park View scoring 17 and conceded 10 whilst Ryton have scored 18 (8 of which game against Esh Winning in a single game!) and conceded 11. Park View have been just about the more consistent but Ryton can beat anyone on their day.

Nathan Beckham had his side in pole position for a play-off place last season for a long, long time and it was only a poor end to the season that saw them slip out of those places and finish 7th. They're looking to do better this campaign.

Perhaps they were slightly distracted by their FA Vase run that got them to the 2nd Round Proper and meant they were playing a lot of fixtures at the crunch time of the season.

We'll never know but having gone out of The Vase last weekend against Holker Old Boys they bounced back well in midweek to beat high-flying Alnwick 2 - 0 and go to The Riverside in good heart as they look to climb the table.

For Park View it's three clean sheets in a row and three unbeaten as they go into the game after a very creditable 0 - 0 draw at Seaham Red Star which followed up their 2 - 0 home win a week ago against Steeton AFC in the FA Vase.

The home side have done really well in recent weeks despite having players missing but The Two Micky's are hoping one or two of their absentees will be available for selection on Saturday.

What ever the line-ups it's another tough game to predict and another tight no-quarter asked no-quarter given type of Northern League football game to look forward too. Kick-Off at The Riverside is 15:00pm.