Recap
Birtley came from behind three times on Saturday to secure a valuable point against promotion-chasing Kendal Town.
The Cumbrians came into the game on the back of six straight victories, and it looked like a seventh was on the cards after a frenetic opening five minutes in which they twice tested Hoops’ keeper Max Campbell before Jamie Looker finally opened the scoring.
Birtley managed to get a foothold however and came close to equalising on a couple of occasions, with keeper Chris Cheetham denying both Reece Harrison and Kaleb Young to keep his side in front.
Kendal had the ball in the net a second time on the half-hour mark through skipper Bailey Kenny, but the Hoops were relieved to see the linesman’s flag raised.
HALF TIME | BIRTLEY TOWN 0-1 KENDAL TOWN
Birtley were quick out of the blocks after the break, with Joseph Hailes racing through one-on-one. His unselfish decision to lay it off to Liam Thear proved the wrong one, as Cheetham stretched to make the interception.
The missed chance was quickly forgotten though when James Proctor was brought down in the box, allowing Thear to step up and dispatch the resultant penalty.
Having worked so hard to get back into the contest, Birtley frustratingly allowed the visitors to get themselves back in front. Looker taking advantage of some defensive confusion to notch his second of the afternoon.
The Hoops kept their heads up though and were level again on 56 minutes when Hailes’ cut-back found Kaleb Young on the edge of the box, who rifled home his second goal of the week.
Birtley nearly got their noses in front on 68 minutes, with Thear being denied at point-blank range by the feet of Cheetham. Kendal then went up the other end and once more took the lead. Jamie Looker completing his hat-trick after pouncing on the rebound after another fine save from Campbell.
As was becoming the story of the afternoon, the hosts hit back almost immediately. Hailes going from provider to goalscorer, hitting a fine effort across the keeper’s body and into the far corner.
Both sides had the chance to bag all three points, with Cheetham denying Reece Harrison from close range, and Kendal hitting the woodwork in the dying seconds, but it was honours even as the final whistle blew.
FULL TIME | BIRTLEY TOWN 3-3 KENDAL TOWN
Next up for Birtley is a trip to West Auckland Town on Friday night, where they’ll look to continue their improved recent form and move up the table.
