Bishop Auckland vs Birtley Town

Recap

Birtley Town progressed to the Quarter Final stage of the Durham County Cup with a brilliant display against Step 4 side Bishop Auckland. 

The Hoops recalled Nick Marley, Callum Turnbull, Matty Boyd and Josh Strassheim to the side that faced Seaham Red Star at the weekend. Birtley started the game extremely well with Bishop trying to play out from the back. Birtley were patient with their press and managed to capitalise by winning the ball in the final third. Nick Marley broke down the left after four minutes and found Scott Heslop. Heslop played a neat pass to James Proctor but the energetic midfielder dinked his effort wide from six yards out.

The Hoops broke free again just minutes later, Heslop again playing through Shodeinde but his effort was well defended by Bishop. Bishop had a chance of their own on 10 minutes but Sam Hedley was able to block a low shot out for a corner. Shodeinde nodded through ball to Nick Marley released the Birtley striker on 13 minutes but Bishop keeper Lincoln was able to deny a certain opener.

Auckland grew into the game as the first half progressed. Sam Dinsley produced a couple of moments of brilliant defending as Cyril Giraud tested him in dangerous areas. The Hoops were good value in the first period and should have gone into the break in the lead. Birtley had more than matched Bishop in the opening period and there were a number of notable performances with outstanding discipline and effort. 

HALF TIME | Bishop Auckland 0-0 Birtley Town 

Bishop started the second period with an increased tempo. Cyril Giraud tested Gordon on 58 minutes but the Birtley stopper made a fine save. The Hoops back four was standing strong with Callum Turnbull producing his best performance of the season.

The Hoops kept pushing for an opener but chances were fewer in the second period for Birtley, the visitors limited to a series of corners. Giraud was causing problems for Birtley but the Hoops players work hard to ensure that efforts on Alfie Gordon’s goal were limited. Benji Shodeinde and Nick Marley worked extremely hard to support both full backs while Matty Boyd, James Proctor and Matty Boyd pressed relentlessly in midfield.

The effort levels of the Birtley players began to show in the final third of the game.  Kaleb Young replaced the tireless Matty Boyd in midfield on 64 minutes. Jonathan Maase whizzed a brilliant cross along the Birtley six yard line but Bishop were unable to capitalise. Bartliff smashed an effort at goal from 20 yards out but Bishop’s best opportunity came on 76 minutes. Bartliff was through on goal and lifted the ball over Alfie Gordon but his effort bounced off the inside of the post, Gordon managing to scramble the rebound out for a corner.

Matty Ward replaced Nick Marley in the latter stages, Marley having completely ran himself into the ground. In the dying moments, James Proctor’s long-range effort was well saved by Lincoln. The outstanding Scott Heslop was replaced by the returning Ben Pentland as the final whistle quickly approached and both sides prepared for penalties. 

FULL TIME | Bishop Auckland 0-0 Birtley Town

James Proctor stepped up first and sent Lincoln the wrong way with a neat effort. Howard scored for Bishop to level the scores at 1-1. Birtley dispatched their next three penalties through Matty Ward, Kaleb Young and Benji Shodeinde. The Hoops were leading 4-3 when Sam Hodgson fired his effort off the post. That left the inevitable Callum Turnbull to step up to take Birtley’s 5th penalty. Turnbull fired his traditional penalty into the corner to fire The Hoops to yet another penalty shoot-out success. 

FULL TIME | Bishop Auckland 0-0 Birtley Town (Birtley win 5-3 on penalties)

Player of the Match – Sam Dinsley

Attendance – 234

Manager’s Corner

Reece Chapman: “We delivered a fantastic performance against Bishop Auckland. They’re a very good side, they move the ball extremely well and have some really dangerous attacking players. Add to that that we were missing a few because of injury and the result is a really positive one. We’ve made some big calls. We’ve brought some lads back into the side and set up shape wise slightly different to what we have the rest of the season, I thought everyone was tremendous.

We started the game fantastically and in truth could have been one or even two up in the first 15 minutes. Their keeper has made some good saves in that period. Bishop were always going to have chances but I felt that we limited them for large spells of the game especially in the first 60-70 minutes. Our shape, discipline and ability to press them in certain areas of the pitch really stood out all night.

We’ve had a little bit of fortune when their lad hits the post with about 10-15 to go but other than that I don’t think they’ve cut us open in the 90. It goes to penalties and it’s a lottery, but the lads knew stepping up to the spot that they had impressed all evening regardless of the outcome of the spot kicks and were full of confidence.

Overall, I feel our performance was deserving of going through to the next round and I think the lads deserve huge credit from everyone for their efforts.”

H2H vs Bishop Auckland (at Heritage Park)
P2 W0 D0 L2 GF0 GA7

Next up…

The Hoops have a free weekend and a chance for players to allow a couple of injuries with a chance to settle. Birtley will face North Shields on Tuesday 12th November with a 7:30pm kick-off. 

Match Photos (Credit to Joe Gorman)

For match photos, courtesy of Joe Gorman, please click HERE!

Match Highlights (Credit to Bishop Auckland FC)