Match report proudly sponsored by Northumbria Print
Morpeth Town conceded two second half Marine goals as a game between two evenly matched sides ended in a 2-0 loss for the Highwaymen at Craik Park.
Andrew Scarisbrick and Hayden Campbell were among the goals as the visitors left with three points in a Pitching In NPL Premier Division clash that pitched 8th against 9th.
Town made a couple of changes to the starting line-up that featured at Gainsborough Trinity 10 days ago, with Michael Turner returning from suspension to replace Chris Reid, who received a straight red card in that game and a three-match ban. Connor Pani came in for Josh King.
Both sides began industrially, pressing and probing without finding that all important final pass or shot that would break the deadlock.
Marine would go closest six minutes in when a low Scarisbrick cross from the left was put into the side-netting at the back post by Charley Doyle. Jeff Henderson then inadvertently sent a header towards his own goal when attempting to clear a free-kick but keeper Dan Lowson was alert and pushed it behind.
Town were starting to piece together a few chances of their own, with Pani forcing a decent stop from Marine keeper Bayleigh Passant, before Connor Thomson capitalised on good play from Ryan Wombwell before hitting the side-netting with a 25th minute effort.
Doyle’s 27th minute header looped on to the bar before the best chance of the game fell to Jack Foalle on 31 minutes. The forward did well to latch on to a through ball on the right side of the box, but his effort across goal was deflected past the far post by Passant.
The same two players duelled once again three minutes before half-time, with the keeper again coming out on top. Foalle used his strength to get clear of Sean Smith, but his effort from just inside the box was deflected up, by a sprawling Passant, before hitting the bar on the way out of play.
Then came Marine’s most obvious chance of the half when a set-piece into the back post found Lucas Weir all on his own. But the midfielder couldn’t get above the ball and sent his header from close range high and wide of the target.
With both sides rueing missed opportunities during the interval, the second half began, predictably, in similar fashion to the first. Both sides looking for that golden chance and working hard to create it.
Ryan Donaldson’s long-range effort spun wide seconds after the restart and Jack Dunn thumped the inside of the post for the visitors as both sides sought a breakthrough.
The impressive Sol Soloman should have scored on 57 minutes but was denied by the quick thinking of Morpeth’s Callum Morris. After Soloman got there before an on-rushing Lowson, he attempted to find the empty net, only to see his shot blocked by Morris.
Then came the opener from Scarisbrick on 67 minutes. With more than a hint of handball in Josh Soloman-Davies’ control of the ball in midfield, the right back galloped down the right flank before crossing for Scarisbrick to slot home from 12 yards.
Liam Noble bent a shot just wide before Turner’s effort was deflected wide and Morris saw a header loop over the top as Morpeth went in search of an equaliser.
It wouldn’t come though and with Lowson up for a stoppage time corner, Marine had a chance to break quickly despite Morris seemingly being felled in the box for what looked a big penalty shout.
With the game continuing, substitute Campbell took aim from the halfway line before launching a shot at the empty goal and finding the back of the net.
Town are next in action when they travel to Nantwich Town next Saturday, with live commentary available on our Mixlr Page from 2.55pm on the day.
MORPETH TOWN: Lowson, Wombwell, Turner, Donaldson, Henderson, Morris, Foalle, Noble, Fishburn (Pearson 61’), Pani (Ramsey 71’), Thomson.
SUBS: Robson, King, Harvey
MARINE: Passant, Soloman-Davies, Smith, Barrigan, Wardle, Spittle, Weir (Campbell 83’), Doyle, Dunn (Evans 74’), Soloman (Touray 90’), Scarisbrick.
SUBS: Clark, Adams.
ATT: 437
