United travelled to Birtley to take on Coach & Horses in the County Cup 2nd Preliminary Round with a good squad available but United ended their county cup campaign with a 7-1 defeat although the scoreline does flatter Birtley slightly!
Birtley signalled their attacking intent in the 3rd minute when a cross was headed by Craig Averre towards his own goal with keeper Steve Barnes sparing his blushes but the United defence were caught sleeping and the striker got to the rebound hitting the bar when it was easier to score from 3 yards out
On 5 minutes Birtley had the perfect opportunity to take the lead. A ball over the top to the striker and keeper Steve Barnes took him down in the box. The penalty was well saved by Steve Barnes and the rebound was also saved to keep the score at 0-0
Birtley took the lead on 11 minutes when a ball down the left was played across goal and with keeper Steve Barnes out of goal it was put into the empty net. 1-0
United had their first effort on 12 minutes when Michael Parkin hit a shot from distance but the keeper was equal to it and tipped it wide
2 minutes later and Birtley had a free kick on the edge of the box following a foul by Stu Bowman. The free kick was heading into the net but Steve Barnes managed to get across and tip it over
Another save by Steve Barnes on 17 minutes this time with his feet, prevented Birtley going further ahead after a corner was flicked on and the left foot shot was kept out
Birtley hit a shot wide from distance on 19 minutes and then Michael Parkin pulled the ball back for Scott Stevenson but his shot was headed over the bar by a defender. Scott then took a shot from distance on 21 minutes but it was off target.
United put a great move together on 25 minutes with some lovely passing and it ended with Michael Parkin teeing up Scott Stevenson but he pulled his shot wide of the post
Birtley tried a lob on 37 minutes which looped over the bar but they doubled their advantage on 39 minutes when a cross from the right was steered into the bottom right hand corner. 2-0
The last chance of the half again fell to Birtley when a cross to the back post was met with a header which Steve Barnes saved and then the follow up shot took a deflection on its way through and Steve Barnes grabbed it before it crossed the line
Half Time - Birtley Coach & Horses FC 2-0 Wear United FC
United had the first chance of the second half on 48 minutes when Graham Smith hit a shot from 30 yards but couldn't get it on target and it went wide and a minute later Birtley went 3-0 up with a break down the left and the shot was placed across Steve Barnes and into the far corner
United pulled a goal back on 55 minutes and what a goal it was. Graham Smith split the defence with a pass to Dan Musther and he lobbed the keeper from 25 yards with the ball bouncing once before going in. 3-1
Birtley then hit United with a quickfire double. On 60 minutes a ball forward was flicked on and the striker rounded Steve Barnes and hit it into the net despite Stu Bowman's best efforts to get their to keep it out and then on 62 minutes a shot from the left was well saved by Steve Barnes but the rebound fell to the Birtley player who smashed it goalwards and Steve Barnes could only get fingers to it but couldn't keep it out. 5-1
On 66 minutes a free kick over the top of the defence was kneed towards goal but kept out by Steve Barnes
On 70 minutes United had a corner which Dan Musther took short to Paul Hogg and his cross to the back post was met with a header by Andrew Hodgson but from a tight angle the header went wide
On 71 minutes Birtley tried a lob after a ball over the top but it went 5 yards wide
It was United's turn to try a lob next on 78 minutes but Michael Parkin's looping effort was saved by the keeper
Birtley went 6-1 up on 80 minutes with a powerful drive from 25 yards which flew into the goal and they got their 7th on 84 minutes when a cross from the left was met with a shot on the slide from 8 yards. 7-1
Birtley were still trying to score ore goals and had 3 ore efforts. On 86 minutes a ball in from the right was curled towards goal but it went narrowly wide, 2 minutes later a ball forward was flicked inside and met with a volley which went wide and then with a minute remaining a shot from the right hit the side netting
United had the final chance of the game on 90 minutes when a quick free kick by Andrew Hodgson to Michael Parkin saw Michael (United's man of the match) shoot wide from distance
Full Time - Birtley Coach & Horses 7-1 Wear United FC
Good first half but fell apart in the second half. Back to league action next week
