Recap

HOOPS SECURE BACK TO BACK WINS AFTER BEATING THORNABY

Paterson, Aitken and Wotherspoon were on the scoresheet as an excellent Birtley performance earnt a 3-1 win. 

Both teams came into this game with momentum from victories at the weekend with our visitors having claimed a brilliant win against Step 4 Ashington so this one was set up to be a cracker.  And as I seem to be writing in every single match report at the moment, it didn’t take long for the opening goal despite a relatively slow start for the first seven minutes. Birtley recycled a corner and Charlie Aitken brought down the ball brilliantly but his effort was saved, Hedley failed to poke in the rebound but Regan Paterson was on hand hand to fire home at the third attempt. Thornaby responded well and after Owen Lancaster was booked for a foul on the edge of the area, Lawrence fired the free kick just wide. In fact the vistors had a stretch of three or four free kicks within shooting range but couldn’t test Alfie Gordon with any. 

On twenty minutes, Charlie Aitken, who looked lively throughout, fired into the side netting on the angle. Other than the goal Birtley hadn’t created that much but began to grow into the game midway through the first period. Goalscorer Paterson fired wide from distance before Wotherspoon played in Matty Ward who tried to round Taylor in the Thornaby goal but the keeper did well and forced him wide enough for defenders to get back and clear the shot. On the half hour mark a good chance for Thornaby but the in form Spencer Walker’s lifted effort just past the post after going over Gordon. The vistors grew back into the game and it took an excellent intervention from  Lancaster to deny Pickett before Lucas Cassen headed just wide. 

Just before half time it was Birtley who grabbed the crucial second goal. Superb work from Sam Hedley to find Regan Paterson who squared it for Charlie Aitken to slot home. Excellent play from Birtley to make it 2-0! 

HALF TIME: Birtley Town 2-0 Thornaby

Similarly to the first period the second half didn’t start with all that much momentum and it took ten minutes for the first real chance. Proctor and Gettins combined brilliantly and they found Aitken who played it out wide to Ward who swung an immaculate first time ball to Paterson, only for the man who opened the scoring to blaze over from within the six yard box. Quite brilliant football from Birtley that should have yielded a clinching third. And the Hoops were immediately punished for not taking their chances as Sam Lawrence fired a brilliant strike into the bottom corner to bring the visitors right back into the game.

On the hour mark with the game right back in the balance Birtley made two changes, with Marley and Havelock-Brown replacing Gettins and Hailes. And the changes immediately  had an impact. A Birtley man was felled and the ref pointed to the penalty spot, with many visitors arguing the foul was outside the area. Eventually Liam Wotherspoon stepped up and slotted home to score for the second game in a row and restore Birtley’s two goal lead. 

Birtley didn’t rest up there though and Regan Paterson smacked the crossbar before a great save from Taylor denied Nick Marley. With 15 to go Regan hit the bar again and Aitken couldn’t connect with the rebound. Paterson then deservedly went into the book for a late challenge. In the words of Tuna – ‘an eventful evening for the lad: scored, assisted, missed a sitter, cannoned the crossbar twice, yellow card, and I think he screamed when tackled too’ – and he was substituted shortly after firing yet another shot which was well saved. The fellow yellow carded Owen Lancaster was replaced by Lewis Bateman who came on for his Birtley debut. 

Birtley grafted well in seeing out the game including Nick Marley holding up the ball well in the corner. And indeed they did hold on for a deserved 3 points after an excellent performance. 

COMING UP

On Friday night we end a run of seven home games in eight with a home game against North Shields at 7:30pm. The following Tuesday we travel to Shildon at 7:30pm before heading to Northallerton a week Saturday.

We are running our first supporter coach of the season for that game departing at 11:30am to get to Yorkshire for 12:30pm in time for the Newcastle game, with Birtley kicking off at 3pm. There will be a scheduled stop off after the game for a few drinks. Get in contact now to book your place.

UP THE HOOPS