On 9th March 2025, Birtley Town Hawks faced Washington United Juniors Gold in a gripping league match held at the Southern Area Playing Fields, kicking off at 10:15 am. The match concluded with a dramatic 2-2 draw, showcasing the resilience and determination of both sides throughout the contest.
Birtley Town Hawks lined up in a 3-2-3 formation, designed to balance defensive solidity with attacking flair. Fletcher Tranter occupied the goalkeeping position, while a trio of defenders—Jacob Davison on the right, Ben Routledge in the centre, and Walter Johnson on the left—formed the backline. In midfield, Jack McKay and Seb Davison operated centrally, tasked with linking defence and attack. Up front, Noah Hodgson and Isaac Morales played on the right and left flanks respectively, supporting lone striker Alfie Elmy, who was expected to lead the line and convert chances into goals.
The substitutes for Birtley Town Hawks included Kayden Dailey, Leo Patterson, Harry Kean, and Harry Morrison, who would provide fresh legs and tactical options as the match progressed.
The first half saw a flurry of activity, beginning with a series of substitutions at the 20-minute mark. Kayden Dailey replaced Noah Hodgson, Leo Patterson came on for Jack McKay, and Harry Kean took the place of Jacob Davison, while Harry Morrison substituted for Isaac Morales. These changes aimed to inject new energy into the team as they sought to break the deadlock.
Just six minutes later, Kayden Dailey made an immediate impact by scoring the opening goal in the 26th minute, tapping in a saved shot from Alfie Elmy. The Hawks celebrated their lead, but it was short-lived as Washington United Juniors Gold struck back just two minutes later, capitalising on a defensive mistake to level the score.
As the first half drew to a close, the teams went into the break at 1-1, with both sides having shown flashes of attacking intent. The second half saw Birtley Town Hawks regain their lead in the 34th minute, courtesy of a stunning long-range strike from Seb Davison, who unleashed a powerful right-footed shot that found the back of the net. The Hawks were buoyed by this goal, but their joy was again tempered when Washington United Juniors Gold equalised in the 56th minute, once more exploiting another lapse in the Birtley defence. This was a tough setback considering the amount of squandered chances at the other end of the pitch by the Hawks.
With the score at 2-2, the match entered its final stages, and Birtley pushed for a winner. Birtley made further tactical adjustments, bringing back Alfie Elmy and Seb Davison, who had been substituted earlier, in place of Noah Hodgson and Isaac Morales, respectively. Despite their best efforts, neither side could find the decisive goal, and the match ended in a stalemate.
The draw leaves much for the Hawks to ponder as they look ahead to their next fixtures, after dominating a match only to capitulate at both ends of the pitch.
Seb Davison's standout performance earned him the Player of the Match accolade, highlighting his crucial contributions in midfield and attack.
