Recap
Hoops progress to third round with comfortable 2-0 win over Ryton & Crawcrook
Birtley beat Ryton and Crawcrook Albion 2-0 to secure safe passage through to Round 3 of the Brooks Mileson Memorial League Cup. Ryton made a promising start and had the ball in the back of the net after only two minutes but the linesman’s flag denied them. Both teams then showed promise with forays forward until in the 22nd minute, Proctor was felled in the box. Joe Hailes stuck away the resulting penalty and Birtley had the lead midway through the first half. Just after this, Harrison almost made it two from a free kick almost 30 yards out.
From this point on Birtley went on a period of dominance where they really should’ve scored more. Firstly, Hailes pounced on a light back pass and with only the keeper to beat he somehow hit the post and the rebound drew a good save from Corkhill in the Ryton net. Proctor then went on a mazy run where he drove to the byline and cut back with two Birtley players having a swipe at it within the six yard box. The first attempt was skewed before Joe Hailes’ effort was blocked. Minutes later, almost a carbon copy. Another Proctor run, another cutback and another effort that probably should’ve gone in but somehow didn’t.
After all the brilliant football, Hoops did eventually add a second in the 37th minute. Owen Lancaster fired from 25 yards on the right and the keeper flapped at it and it nestled in the back of the net. The Proctor magic continued, once again driving into the box. This time it was Reece Harrison whose effort was blocked when it looked like a goal was most likely.
That took us to half time. 2-0 to Birtley but it really should’ve been more.
HALF TIME | BIRTLEY TOWN 2-0 RYTON & CRAWCROOK ALBION
Considering how the first had ended, the second half started quite uneventfully. It took until the 58th minute for a flashpoint where Ryton were certain they should’ve had a penalty for a trip when their attacker tried to round Ryan Hammer in the Birtley net. After that the game came back to life. Birtley had the ball in the back of the net once again but Harrison was denied by the offside flag having been played in by Proctor. Ryton then hit the side netting from a free kick although it appeared Hammer had it covered. Proctor then played in Hailes who was also called offside when about to (hopefully) slot home. This one had less complaints admittedly. Proctor was then denied by some good defending from Caygill when charging forward again.
On 70 minutes another flashpoint as Hoops midfielder Stafford had a heavy collision with Ryton’s Calvert with both players down for some time. The visitors were begging for a red card but when Stafford eventually rose only a yellow was issued. Then some more Ryton pressure as goalscorer Lancaster had to clear off the line and the visitors created some half chances from set pieces. With ten to go, Proctor rounded the keeper when through on goal but the whistle went again. This time for handball and not offside. Proctor had somehow missed the open goal anyway. You’ll have to watch the highlights for yourself and decide if it was intentional to delay the restart or if he genuinely missed. Birtley fended off some more set pieces from Ryton to ensure their safe passage to round three.
FULL TIME | BIRTLEY TOWN 2-0 RYTON & CRAWCROOK ALBION
A competitive game for much of the ninety. Hoops should have scored much more, Ryton probably will feel they deserved one. We wish them all the best for the rest of their season and with their play off push. And also many thanks to all the supporters home and away who came down to The Arrowmark Home Improvements Stadium.
Even more thanks to those who donated to youth player George’s fundraiser for The Little Princess Trust Charity. George will be shaving his hair off during half-term and we wish him the best of luck!
H2H v RYTON & CRAWCROOK ALBION
P8 W3 D1 L4 GF13 GA8
| DATE | HOME | F | A | AWAY | COMPETITION | ATT. | GOALSCORERS |
| 16.08.2011 | Birtley Town | 0 | 1 | Ryton & Crawcrook | NL Div 2 | 45 | – |
| 06.11.2012 | Birtley Town | 0 | 1 | Ryton & Crawcrook | NL Div 2 | 50 | – |
| 31.08.2013 | Birtley Town | 2 | 0 | Ryton & Crawcrook | NL Div 2 | 55 | D. Taggart x2 |
| 01.11.2014 | Birtley Town | 5 | 1 | Ryton & Crawcrook | NL Div 2 | 53 | A. Peacock x2 | K. Hewitson x2 | K. Wilkinson |
| 07.10.2015 | Birtley Town | 1 | 2 | Ryton & Crawcrook | NL Div 2 | 42 | D. Ellis |
| 23.02.2019 | Birtley Town | 0 | 0 | Ryton & Crawcrook | NL Div 2 | 95 | – |
| 20.04.2022 | Birtley Town | 1 | 2 | Ryton & Crawcrook | NL Div 2 | 139 | J. Barwick |
| 15.04.2023 | Birtley Town | 4 | 1 | Ryton & Crawcrook | NL Div 2 | 202 | G. Hargrave | M. Ward | Cal Smith x2 |
| GOALSCORERS 2025/26 | |||||
| BIRTLEY TOWN | RYTON & CRAWCROOK ALBION | ||||
| 12 | Marley, Nick | 2 | Hedley, Sam | Anderson, Louis | 17 |
| 9 | Proctor, James | 2 | Ray-Tharpe, Malachi | Calvert, Louis | 16 |
| 8 | Heslop, Scott | 2 | Stafford, Jake | Johnston, Callum | 9 |
| 6 | Ward, Matthew | 2 | Walker, Alexander | Bisset, Declan | 6 |
| 5 | Harrison, Reece | 1 | Armin, Charlie | Salkeld, Jack | 4 |
| 5 | Thear, Liam | 1 | Exley, Lewis | Dodds, Kurtis | 3 |
| 4 | Hailes, Joe | 1 | Honour, Jack | Beesley, Nathan | 2 |
| 4 | Young, Kaleb | 1 | Smith, Callum | Dart, Morgan | 2 |
| 2 | Bewley, Ethan | 1 | Wharton, Kyle | Groves-Forbes, Joseph | 2 |
| 2 | Burrell, Dale | Lynch, Fergus | 1 | ||
| 2 | Francis, Alex | McLeod, Rhys | 1 | ||
| 2 | OWN GOALS | 3 | |||
| 5 | CLEAN SHEETS | 12 | |||
| 4 | FAILED TO SCORE IN | 10 | |||
UP NEXT….
In terms of fixtures to come, we’ve had many rearranged games moved again so here is the next few weeks. The Hoops have ten days rest before at long last a Saturday home game on the 28th Feb against West Allotment Celtic. They are followed by trips to Kendal Town on Saturday 7th March and Crook Town on the Tuesday after that.
