Ryton & Crawcrook Albion's six game unbeaten run in Ebac Northern League Division Two came to an end against leaders Blyth Town at Kingsley Park on Wednesday February 28, although the final scoreline was very harsh on Nathan Beckham's side who matched the promotion favourites all the way but were thwarted by an inspired display from former Washington keeper Alex Lawrence.

The league leaders made three changes to the side that suffered a first home defeat of the season to Esh Winning four days earlier with Nathan Beesley, Yannick Aziakonou and Adam Johnson replacing Evan Fogarty, Damen Mullen and Louis Calvert who all dropped to the bench, while the hosts' starting line-up showed two changes to the one that drew 3-3 in the Tyne Valley derby last time out with Connor Shaw and Daniel Craggs in for Kristian Sands and Rhys McLeod.

Although Albion started on the front foot and had the benefit of a strong wind at their backs, it was Blyth Town who created the best chances in the first 10 minutes.

Robbie Dale's long ball was headed on by centre forward Dan Wilson to winger Brandon Slater who advanced to the edge of the box before dragging his shot wide of Brogan Colquhoun's left-hand post. Wilson then headed Beesley's long range free-kick off target, midfielder Max Cowburn had a shot blocked in the box and, soon after, Cowburn's 25 yard effort was heading towards the bottom corner until Colquhoun somehow clawed it away diving low at full stretch to his right.

The hosts finally got their first sight of goal on 14 minutes when Fergus Lynch intercepted a poor clearance on half-way before bursting forward as space opened up but instead of shooting, he fed centre forward Aaron Costello who blazed a left-footed effort high over over the bar.

Lawrence didn't have to make a save until the 18th minute when a long range strike from Craggs flew straight into his hands.

A short spell with plenty of endeavour in midfield from both sides and a lack of goalmouth action ended with the visitors winning two corners in quick succession. The first one was taken short to Aziakonou who saw his cross punched away in acrobatic fashion by Colquhoun and, from the second one, Cowburn's delivery to the near post was headed clear.

At the other end, Lynch made another great run from the centre circle through the heart of the visitors' defence and almost put Costello clean through on goal. They came again down the right with pacy full back Joseph Groves-Forbes and Costello linking up well before the ball was squared to Lynch who unleashed a rising drive that was tipped over superbly by Lawrence.

After looking as though it would be honours even at the break, the deadlock was broken in spectacular fashion by Blyth Town in the 45th minute. Albion centre half Glenn Caygill was booked after bringing down Johnson just outside the corner of the box on the left and Cowburn stepped up to curl in a sublime free-kick which flew over Colquhoun into the top corner (0-1).

The visitors were out the blocks quickly at the start of the second half with Cowburn again in the thick of the action. Getting on the end of Scott Oldfield's headed clearance, his first-time half volley from 20 yards flew straight at Colquhoun and, when a corner was only half-cleared, another effort from outside the box was blocked.

The hosts were dealt a blow on 50 minutes when top-scorer Costello was replaced by Lucas Hildreth after picking up a leg injury.

Blyth Town remained in the ascendancy as two more chances came their way. From a corner on the right, Harry Sawyer's deep delivery to the back post was headed over and the next attack ended with Wilson turning his man on the corner of the six-yard box before dragging an effort wide of the near post.

Lawrence then preserved his side's slender lead by making a couple of great saves just before the hour mark. After playing a one-two with recent signing Connor Shaw, Michael Baxter surged into the box before laying it off to Lynch who had an angled drive saved low down. Moments later, a perfectly weighted through ball sliced open the Blyth Town defence leaving Lynch in a one-on-one with Lawrence and the keeper was at full stretch to turn the midfielder's firmly struck effort beyond his right-hand post for a corner.

Albion continued to press for an equaliser with Jack Errington and Baxter combining well before feeding Craggs who saw his low drive blocked by Lawrence's outstretched legs.

Out of nothing, Blyth Town almost doubled their lead in the 76th minute when Ben Fell's wind-assisted free-kick taken deep inside his own half dropped on the edge of the box for Wilson who had a looping header palmed narrowly wide of the post by Colquhoun.

The game swung from end to end in the closing stages with the league leaders never looking comfortable and a draw would have been a fair result.

However, there was to be no fairytale ending for Albion who conceded twice in the dying minutes. Brandon Slater was in the right place in the box to rifle a shot inside the near post (0-2) and, on the counter-attack in stoppage time, substitute Louis Calvert sprinted into the box on the left before looking up and squaring for Wilson to slot home from close range (0-3).

This was Blyth Town's 25th win of the season to put them 12pts ahead of second placed Bedlington Terriers with a game in hand and they look certain to be playing in Division One next season.