Carlisle City vs Birtley Town

Recap

Birtley Town were left to rue missed opportunities as they fell to a 3-1 defeat to Carlisle City on Tuesday evening.

The Hoops started brightly and it took just … minutes for Birtley to take the lead. Jack Elliott broke down the left wing and clipped a cross that was headed home by the returning James Proctor. The game suffered a lengthy stoppage as Sam Dinsley suffered a serious head injury on 14 minutes that resulted in the Birtley man being rushed to hospital. Later scans showing no further injury but a nasty injury to the mouth area for Dinsa.

Birtley thought they had doubled their lead 38 minutes but were denied from a great save. Almost inevitably at the moment Birtley looked to be taking a lead into the break, Keighran Kerr was left unmarked on the stroke of half-time and he slotted into the bottom corner from the edge of the box leaving Gordon with no chance.

HALF TIME | Carlisle City 1-1 Birtley Town

Birtley came out of the traps in similar fashion to the first half and should of re-taken the lead. Scott Heslop and Jack Elliott combined but were unable to capitalise. James Proctor played a beautiful one-two with Scott Heslop and was baring on goal but his dinked chip went wide of the post.  Scott Heslop thought he was through on goal but a poor final pass left Birtley ruing a host of missed opportunities. On 58 minutes, Birtley were punished as Keighran Kerr was left unmarked in the area and headed home. Carlisle extended their lead on 67 minutes, once again as Kieron Blair fired home after a good save from Alfie Gordon.

Carlisle fell to 10 men due to injury in the later stages but Birtley were unable to capitalise. The Hoops broke down the left wing and 81 minutes but were unable to pull a goal back despite efforts from Nick Marley and Boyd. The game drew to a close as Kyle Wharton missed a close range header with Birtley well aware that this was a missed opportunity to pick up vital points.

FULL TIME | Carlisle City 3-1 Birtley Town

Attendance – 125

Player of the Match – TBC

Manager’s Corner

Reece Chapman: “We’re really disappointed with the result. For large proportions of the first half there only ever looked like there was going to be one winner. We moved the ball brilliantly and Carlisle couldn’t live with our pace. However, they’ve scored on the stroke of half time and got their tails up going into the break. Our response in the second half was really good though and Proc should put us 2-1 up when he goes through 1v1 with the keeper. Carlisle to their credit never gave up and took both their second half goals well but I think for us its points dropped. We’ve counted 4 or 5 really big chances in the second half plus even more half chances – so its disappointing that we’ve not shown the quality we know we have to put those away. We’ve challenged the players after the game to put that right moving forward. Again, we could be sat here with more points on the board than we have but if we keep working hard our fortunes will turn.”

H2H v Carlisle City
P4 W1 D0 L3 GF2 GA6

Next up…

Birtley travel to Blyth Town on Saturday followed by a Friday night fixture at Newcastle Blue Star

Highlights 

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