Recap
Birtley are quickly gaining a reputation as draw specialists, after their eight stalemate of the season at home to Penrith on Saturday.
The Hoops were beneficiaries of a bit of good fortune on the eve of the game as Penrith announced the departure of the division’s leading scorer Luke Hunter to AFC Fylde of the National League North.
The Cumbrians did not seem to miss their star man too much, as they took the lead in only the fourth minute through Luke Brown’s powerful strike after Max Campbell had saved with his feet.
Birtley twice came close to drawing level through James Proctor and Joe Hailes, and finally got on terms in the 20th minute, with Hailes firing home from the spot after Liam Thear had been felled by the visiting keeper Lewis Boyd.
As half time approached, Birtley got their noses in front, with captain Sam Hedley appearing at the back stick to head home Proctor’s corner.
HALF TIME | BIRTLEY TOWN 2-1 PENRITH AFC
Birtley started on the front foot after the break, and opened up a cushion in the 50th minute as Nick Marley tapped home after Boyd had made a double save from Proctor and Hailes.
They almost went one further on 56 minutes after Boyd fumbled an easy catch and looked on in relief as the ball trickled inches wide of his goal.
The game changed on 67 minutes with the introduction of Penrith substitute DJ Taylor, who had the ball in the net within two minutes, only to be flagged offside. Within five minutes, he’d struck again with a curling effort from the edge of the box, and this time the goal stood.
Penrith had a second goal chalked-off on 83 minutes for offside, as Birtley rode their luck once again.
Despite growing pressure from the visitors, Birtley had a couple of gilt-edged chances to put the game to bed, with the returning Scott Heslop playing a tempting cross that went begging, before later beating the offside trap to find himself one-on-one with Boyd, only for the Penrith keeper to come out on top.
With a minute left of normal time Penrith thought they had their equaliser, but the linesman once again had his flag raised. They finally got the point their efforts deserved in injury-time, with another substitute Matthew Williamson popping up to earn his side a draw.
FULL TIME | BIRTLEY TOWN 3-3 PENRITH AFC
It’ll feel like two points dropped for the Hoops, who at one point looked totally in control and had chances to put the game to bed, but it’s hard to deny that Penrith deserved the draw after finding the net five times in the second half. Next up for the Hoops is a short trip to Sam Smiths Park to face fellow mid-table side Newcastle Benfield.
