Match report proudly sponsored by Northumbria Print
Despite a spirited performance, Morpeth Town fell to a 1-0 loss at home to South Shields in the Pitching In NPL Premier Division.
Played out in front of a record home crowd of 2,248, the game started with Morpeth making a change in defence with Josh King moving to right back to replace Ryan Wombwell, who has been recalled by Gateshead pending a permanent move to another North East club.
The game started with Shields seeing plenty of the ball, but Morpeth looking far from flustered as the possession failed to transfer into chances of note.
Andrew Johnson would be the first to get a sight at goal, sending a 15th minute shot from distance straight at opposition keeper Myles Boney. With chances previously at a premium, a first opening of the game arrived seconds later for Shields but Darius Osei blazed well over when wriggling clear of Michael Turner on a rare occasion.
Martin Smith should have done better on 27 minutes for the visitors, but after his first shot was blocked his follow up was blazed over the bar when he should have hit the target.
Then, with the game heading towards half-time, the Mariners headed in the opener, a looping Smith corner in from the left being dispatched by Thomas Broadbent at the back post.
Town began the second half on the front foot and got in behind the full-back only for Connor Thomson to flash a ball across goal which couldn’t find a Morpeth foot two minutes in.
Johnson then smashed a half volley from the edge of the box wide of the target on 51 minutes before sending a dipping free-kick over the top seven minutes later.
Ryan Donaldson lashed an effort off target on the hour-mark as Morpeth created more opportunities but keeper Dan Lowson would shine 60 seconds later.
With Blair Adams unleashing a fierce low drive across goal from 20 yards, it was an effort destined for the bottom corner until Lowson flung himself across goal and somehow kept it out.
Substitute Dale Pearson’s cross was tipped over by Boney in the 76th minute as the Highwaymen went in search of an equaliser which so nearly arrived deep into stoppage when Chris Reid’s rising deflected drive flew just over the bar.
They wouldn’t find the breakthrough though and ended on the wrong end of a 1-0 score-line. The Highwaymen are next in action on Saturday when travelling to Matlock Town.
MORPETH TOWN: Lowson, King, Reid, Donaldson, Henderson (c), Turner, Foalle, Pani, Fishburn, Thomson (Geliher 81’), Johnson (Pearson 70’).
SUBS: Ramsey, Harvey
SOUTH SHIELDS: Boney, Hunter, Broadbent, Liddle, Morse, Smith, Mongoy, Ross, Osei (Mottley-Henry 84’), Alessandra (Heaney 73’), Adams (c).
SUBS: Doherty, Briggs, Woods.
ATT: 2,248
