Recap
It was an all too familiar story for Birtley on Teeside as The Hoops fell to a 5-0 defeat at the hands of Boro Rangers.
Going into the game Birtley were well aware of their previous record at Pheonix Park and a depleted Hoops side could not prevent another heavy defeat in TS4. In all too familiar fashion Stuart Rose scored another hat-trick and Callum Hickman was also on the scoresheet to mirror the same goal scorers as last season.
The first-half was an even affair with neither side creating any meaningful opportunities in the early stages. Hickman dragged a long-range effort wide but there were no real goalscoring opportunities. Birtley felt aggrieved that they were not awarded a penalty on 30 minutes but the replay showed that from his position the referee would of been unable to give the decision. It was Rose who broke the deadlock just minutes later following a neat assist from Hickman. Rose looked set to score his second before the break but Alfie Gordon was on hand to deny the Boro forward.
Half-Time | Boro Rangers 1 – 0 Birtley Town
The Hoops had their best chance of the game on 50 minutes. Nick Marley was played in on goal but his whipped effort went beyond both Boro Keeper Horner and the post. The moment proved to be costly when Boro extended their lead through an own goal from Kyle Wharton following poor defending from the Birtley backline. Any signs of a comeback were extinguished when Callum Hickman scored the third of the game. Birtley were rightly frustrated that the officials allowed a throw-in to be taken twenty yards higher than when the ball went out of play but will be disappointed by their own reaction. Rose still had plenty of work to do before picking out Hickman in the middle.
Rose thought he had his second of the game but was once again denied by Gordon. The Boro striker did score his 2nd of the afternoon on 74 minutes before completing his hat-trick just moments later. Birtley pushed for a consolation in the later stages but Horner once again denied Nick Marley.
Half-Time | Boro Rangers 5- 0 Birtley Town
A frustrating afternoon for Birtley who could have few complaints at the final whistle.
Manager’s Corner
Reece Chapman was disappointed in how the afternoon unfolded. “We’re really disappointed after game. Credit to them, they’re a good side and we’re clinical in front of goal but we we’re well in the game in the first half and start of the second. Had a couple of chances, including a big chance just before they scored their second.”
The second goal came out of nothing and was because of mistakes we made, we hadn’t made them for the first 50 minutes and then the first one we did got punished. We then switched off and they scored a 3rd almost immediately and in truth the game was done then.
“We went down with 13 lads who all worked incredibly hard but with some key senior players away we lacked what was needed to get a result. Going into any game in this league without 9/10 lads always makes it much tougher and we need the lads back for Tuesday.”
Next up…
Its another trip down the A19 as travel to Marske United on Tuesday. The meeting will be our first trip to Mount Pleasant in 14 years.
Highlights
