Jarrow FC (P) 2-2 Billingham Town (15-04-2021)

FA Durham Challenge Cup 2nd Round 

15-04-2021

Jarrow FC (P) 2-2 Billingham Town

55’, 60’ Cal Smith | 82’, 90’ Bruton (Frazer sent off 53’)

On a night with clear skies and a golden sun it was the home side who prevailed in yet another set of penalties that ultimately settled this entertaining Durham Cup game.

The early exchanges between the two sides were fairly innocuous and it remained that way for most of the first half. Billingham Town in fact controlling most of the ball without really threatening Steve Hubery’s goal. While Billingham tried to play through midfield to the forwards Jarrow’s lack of possession led them to be more direct in their approach and the main target was Channon North who won his fair share of headers and held the ball up well looking for team mates in the process. 

Fortunately for Jarrow on this occasion the referee was in no mood for what he saw as infringements and any sloppy play from the visitors was at times harshly punished and gave the home side opportunities to break up the play and send long balls into the area. Despite having a number of chances the quality of the final ball seemed distinctly lacking and Billingham were able to comfortably deal with every Jarrow threat.

With 21 minutes gone a Phil Gray free kick was played into the box and nodded back towards Cal Smith who tried to control it but with company from behind fell to the ground. Appeals for a penalty were turned down and it would’ve been harsh on the defender who had just used his presence to win the ball.

On 36 minutes it was the away sides turn to have a penalty appeal waved away as the tricky midfielder Baltazar went down under a challenge with Davy Smith but again it looked like the ref got it correct as the Billy number 7 seemed to tumble as he was approaching the mele.

The best effort of the first 45 minutes came when Bruton jinked his way through the Jarrow defence and struck a right foot shot just past Hubery’s post and the score line of 0-0 at the break was a fair reflection of the way the game had panned out.

If the first half had been a timid affair with both sides feeling each other out then he second was much more about attacking football and getting the job done. Billingham strode forward with more purpose and their passing was crisper while Jarrow’s 2nd division players pressed their 1st Division counterparts more and attacked with purpose themselves.

Indeed. It was a high press that led to the first huge incident of the game as Gary Shaw seized on a loose pass and sprinted through the middle of the park. Frazer sensing the danger ran across the backline and slid in towards the Jarrow man sending him flying forward but also making good contact with the ball. The referee deemed the challenge a foul as it could be argued that Frazer caught Shaw before getting the ball and because he was the last man the decision was a red card and for the remaining 37 minutes Billingham would be down to 10 men. 

From the resulting free kick things instantly went from bad to worse for the Teesside club as a high ball was cushioned by the head of Channon North into the path of the outstretched boot of Callum Smith who proved the ball home. 1-0 Jarrow.

That goal and the sending sparked the away side into greater urgency on the ball but it was the home side who yet again found themselves in the opposing box with a pull back from the left hand side finding Callum Smith who poked the ball home from a few yards out and therefore doubling he lead. 2-0 after 60 minutes.

Then a few minutes later things got even worse for Billingham as goalkeeper Roxburgh managed to pick up an injury after claiming a fairly innocuous ball through. Left winger Webster forced to don the gloves and almost immediately after pulling on the keeper jersey he was called into action. As North bore down on goal he was tripped and decided to take the pen himself. Not the best strike he’ll ever hit was well saved by the rookie keeper and the Jarrow scoring was halted.

The following 20 minutes were then filled with Billingham pressure and despite having a man off that pressure told on 82 minutes as the industrious Bruton smashed the ball past Jak Wells in the Jarrow goal to pull a well deserved goal back. After a night of set backs the visitors had something to shout about and weren’t finished yet. A decent chunk of injury time was added due to the sending off and injury to Roxburgh. With the last kick of the game Bruton seized on a loose ball in the box and volleyed home the equaliser after Town had looked dead and buried. Great spirit from the division 1 side and they had forced penalties!

Despite floodlight failure and win whispers of ‘Are you South Shields in disguise’ & ‘you haven’t paid your leccy bill’ ringing out the pens did finally get underway with new Billingham Town number 1 keeper saving 2 more spot kicks, not back for a winger! But it was the Jarrow keeper who turned his own personal fortunes around having missed a pen in the shoot out against Warrington he more than made amends in a season of shootouts by saving 3 and scoring one of his own. Davy Smith converting the final penalty to send Jarrow through. It decent game under the strange current circumstances where no supporters were allowed in. The Hackle Hill outside the ground however was full and as vibrant as ever.

Att: 0 (loads on Hackle Hill)