Tow Law Town vs Birtley Town

Recap

Birtley Town travelled to Tow Law Town on Tuesday evening as the two sides faced each other in another crucial relegation battle.

Tow Law were forced into an early change as captain Dan Smith went off injured after just six minutes and was replaced by Harry Chapman. Birtley dominated the opening exchanges and enjoyed lengthy spells of possession. The Hoops starting making probes towards an opening goal as Matty ward and Luke Carr both linked up but were unable to fully get a clear sight of goal. It was Ward who forced Leo Strange to tip the ball over the bar for a corner after cutting in from the right. Luke Carr delivered the corner which found Heslop at the near post. Unable to get a shot off, Heslop played the ball back to Carr who delivered a similar cross back into Heslop, this time he was able to spin and fire home from close range to open the scoring.

The biggest moment of the half came on 36 minutes. Tow Law created their best opening of the half but the cross whistled across the six yard box. Birtley instantly broke free when Luke Carr found Matty Ward. Ward jinked beyond two defenders before fizzing a low cross across the six yard box which found Scott Heslop, the Birtley number nine firing in from close range for his second goal the game. Just 30 seconds later, Sol Tones blazed over for The Lawyers from close range. In just 90 second both sides had created huge openings but it was Heslop who had doubled the lead for Birtley. Carr again found Ward on 42 minutes who rounded Leo Strange, he was forced wide but found James Proctor arriving in the box. Proctor was unable to keep his effort down as Birtley entered the interval with a two goal lead.

HALF TIME | Tow Law 0-2 Birtley Town

The second-half was a stark contrast to the first with Tow Law coming out fighting for their Division One status. The Lawyers were back in the game on 50 minutes. Leo Strange sent a long ball forward and the Birtley backline were unable to clear. Sam Dinsley contested a header before the ball fell to Ashley Adams whose tame effort found it’s way beyond Alfie Gordon. A series of errors for the visitors who allowed Tow Law a way back into the game. Birtley were well aware that their performance levels had dropped and found it difficult to get control of the game in the opening parts of the second period. The home side were rewarded with their dominance as a Jack Honour foul led to a penalty which was dispatched by James Hughes to level the scores. 

The equaliser seemed to spark life back into Birtley and they finished the game looking for a winner. With Tow Law chasing three points they also piled bodies forward looking for a winner of their own. A brilliant double save from Alfie Gordon denied Tow Law an equaliser while at the other end Matty Ward was unable to capitalise with his effort as he blazed over the bar on 82 minutes before Callum Turnbull headed over. Reece Harrison fired wide before a deflected Ward effort went narrowly wide. Both sides threw everything towards a winner which sets up another huge tie on Friday evening. 

FULL TIME | Tow Law 2-2 Birtley Town

Another point that pushes Birtley closer to survival but having been leading 2-0 The Hoops will have felt that they should have taken all three points. 

Attendance – 76

Player of the Match – Callum Turnbull

H2H vs Tow Law Town (at Ironworks Road)
P10 W6 D1 L3 GF19 GA15 Pts 16/24

Next up…

Birtley will host Taw Low on Friday evening with a 7:30pm kick-off.