Recap
Birtley returned to winning ways on Friday night, with a five-star performance under the lights against Newcastle Blue Star.
The trend of shipping early goals continued, with Dan Wilson putting the visitors ahead in only the second minute, after playing a quick one-two with the post.
The Hoops hit back almost immediately however, with in-form Nick Marley notching his fifth goal in six games to draw his side level.
Birtley then got their noses in front, with recent-signing Reece Havelock-Brown seeing his shot cannon off namesake Reece Harrison and past Dan Lister in the Blue Star goal.
They should’ve gone one better on the stroke of half-time as Joe Hailes ran onto Liam Thear’s exquisite through-ball before laying it off to Kaleb Young who saw his effort go agonisingly wide.
HALF TIME | BIRTLEY TOWN 2-1 NEWCASTLE BLUE STAR
Blue Star had mounted an impressive second-half comeback against top-of-the-table Guisborough Town in their previous outing, but any fears of a repeat were quickly dampened as James Proctor tapped home in the 46th minute from Young’s cross.
A couple of minutes later it should’ve been four, with Lister doing brilliantly to deny Young from point-blank range.
Blue Star were handed a lifeline on 50 minutes as Paul Dudgeon took advantage of some confusion among the otherwise-excellent Birtley defence to pull one back.
If Proctor’s first was a tap-in, his second was anything but; the Birtley winger running from within his own half and beating several men before placing his shot in the bottom corner for what could be the goal of the season.
A buoyant Birtley put the game beyond doubt on the hour mark, with Thear smashing one in from the penalty spot after he was tripped in the box.
The final act of the game fell to Wilson, who completed his brace in injury time to bookend the game. But it was too little too late for Blue Star, who went away empty handed.
FULL TIME | BIRTLEY TOWN 5-3 NEWCASTLE BLUE STAR
It’s not been an easy spell for Blue Star, who saw their management team resign immediately following the game. Birtley on the other hand look to be on-the-up after a string of impressive performances. They’ll be hoping to add another next Saturday, as they welcome North Shields to the Arrowmark.
