Ryton & Crawcrook Albion 1-5 Birtley Town – Match Report
Birtley Town were comfortable as they beat Ryton and Crawcrook Albion in a 5-1 away victory.
Prior to opening the scoring, Aiden Rutledge’s penalty was saved by Adam Mooney in the 29th minute, however 10 minutes later Glen Hargrave fired the away side ahead.
Birtley doubled their lead in the 50th minute, Rutledge’s effort sneaked under Mooney.
Birtley scored twice in quick succession as captain Jack Honour scored a brace to make it 4-0, following two corner goals from Callum Smith’s deliveries.
A red card for Ryton striker Joe Thompson in the 74th minute was issued following violent conduct, which heaped misery on Ryton as Andrew Clarkson headed home a fifth. However, Ryton scored a consolation from the spot as Jay Roper converted.
Birtley were looking to continue promotion form prior to the game, sitting sixth in the league two points behind Horden. Ryton however sat 14th, four points behind Chester-Le-Street.
Hargrave’s stunning strike to open the scoring left Mooney rooted, firing a right footed strike into the top right corner on the edge of the box.
Two early second half goals made it 3-0 to Birtley, the first being a long free kick finding Rutledge who glanced his header underneath Mooney, three minutes later an in-swinging corner from the right by Smith found Honour, who headed home.
This same combination made it 4-0 five minutes later, Honour grabbing a brace. An overall comfortable afternoon for Birtley was capped off by Clarkson, heading home following a short corner. Ryton still showed some fight, as Roped confidently slotted his penalty past Conor Grant into the top right corner.
