Morpeth Town endured a tough night on the road as they fell to a 3-1 loss at Gainsborough Trinity in the Pitching In NPL Premier Division, writes Ross Jackson.
Trailing to a 35th minute Will Lancaster goal, the Highwaymen fell further behind seconds into the second half when Jordan Helliwell tapped home from close range. A two-goal deficit became three when Dec Howe dinked in a 68th minute third goal. Although Nathan Buddle reduced the arrears seconds later, it wasn’t going to be enough.
Town struggled to find a rhythm in the early stages, and they were thankful to goalkeeper Dan Langley who kept things scoreless with a decent two-handed save.
Helliwell had a 13th minute effort straight at Langley as the hosts started to get on top of things. But Morpeth settled as the game progressed and began to find their feet. That was until the 35th minute.
The opening goal of the game came from a set-piece which found a Trinity player on the edge of the box. Instead of shooting, he slid in centre-back Lancaster, who had far too much time and space to slam a shot across the keeper and in.
The impressive Declan Howe skied over with four minutes of the first half to go as Gainsborough threatened to inflict further damage.
Needing a settled start to the second period, and only chasing a single goal deficit, the second half started with a goal for the hosts and Helliwell.
The midfielder latched on to a ball across the box and scored easily at the far post to give Trinity the ideal start, and some breathing space.
Nic Bollado, who arrived off the bench at half-time, provided fresh impetus into an ailing attack, striking straight at the opposition keeper from distance.
Will Dowling also entered the fray and made a positive impact, providing more flow to the midfield play. But Town would concede again on 68 minutes.
While pressing for a way back into proceedings, they left themselves wide open defensively, with a quick counter seeing Howe played clean through. He had plenty of time and space to dink it over the sprawling Langley and into the back of the net.
Buddle scored his first goal in Highwaymen colours seconds later, scooping a shot into the top corner after the hosts failed to clear a corner. But the lack of celebration showed the plight his side found themselves.
There should have been a penalty for Morpeth on 81 minutes when Fenton John was barged over just inside the penalty area but the referee waved away the pleas.
Although, in an attacking sense, Morpeth improved significantly in the final 30 minutes, it wasn’t enough to get them close to getting on level terms as they made it two defeats in succession to start the season.
Town are next in action when they travel to Basford United on Saturday (3pm). Commentary of the game will be available on our Mixlr page from 2.55pm.
GAINSBOROUGH TRINITY: Render, Simpson, Jackson, Conway, Tuntulwana, Lancaster, Butroid, Helliwell, Preston, Howe, Braithwaite.
SUBS: Southwell, Sani, Stacey, K.Simpson, Wharton.
MORPETH TOWN: Langley, Evans, Steels, King (Bollado 46’), Wombwell, Buddle, Barlow (Dowling 63’), Hickey (Miller 81’), Hodgson, John, James.
SUBS: Davison, Boyd.
ATT: 512
