An entertaining goalless draw saw a share of the spoils at Craik Park as Morpeth Town battled it out with fellow north east side Hebburn Town on Tuesday night, writes Ross Jackson.
An intriguing contest ebbed and flowed without exploding into life as both sides pressed and probed without finding a way through two defences confident and at the top of their game.
Jeff Henderson returned for the Highwaymen after a one-game suspension following the red card against Emley in the FA Cup, and slotted in alongside Ryan Wombwell, who had excelled in the previous game at Ashton United.
Danny Barlow was unavailable, so Fenton John came into midfield.
The latter would come up against one of three former Highwaymen, with Liam Noble, Michael Turner, and Joe Walton all featuring for Hebburn.
The game started brightly for the hosts, with a beautifully-weighted through ball from Will Dowling releasing Nic Bollado, but the latter could only cut in and fire over the top from a decent position.
A decent penalty shout, one of three for the home side on the night, was waved away on 15 minutes when Jack Foalle cut inside his man and was felled in the area. The referee, though, was unmoved.
Dowling then forced an unconventional save from keeper Kieran Hunter with a 16th minute shot heading for the top corner as Morpeth should plenty of front-foot intent.
Bollado curled a 22nd minute free-kick into the side-netting before John’s effort was deflected clear by Turner as the Highwaymen built up a head of steam early on.
The first attacking threat from the visitors wouldn’t arrive until the 26th minute when Joe Posthill curled a shot well off target.
A minor flashpoint a minute later saw Morpeth players protesting a stamp from Noble, with a melee ensuing that resulted in only Rhys Evans going in the book.
Bollado was denied by Hunter on 34 minutes, before Hebburn started to threaten, a low shot just before half-time pushed clear by Dan Langley before a second Morpeth penalty shout.
Dowling’s persistence saw him keep the ball in play on the by-line but he was pulled down as he sought get a shot away. Again, the referee waved it away.
Whereas the first half went by in a flash, the second, in truth, failed to live up to the same standards. Josh Robson’s headed effort was off target four minutes after the interval before a third penalty shout was dismissed by the ref.
This time, Foalle was definitely fouled, but ruled a fraction outside the box, with those of a Morpeth persuasion suggesting otherwise.
John saw a 65th minute fly over the top but Dowling would go closer on 74 minutes, his deflected effort needing Hunter’s full attention to push it to safety.
The best chance of the half fell to Foalle on 88 minutes, but his shot, while sliding to connect, whistled past the far post as the game ended scoreless.
Morpeth are next in action when they travel to Spennymoor Town on Saturday in the Emirates FA Cup Second Qualifying Round.
MORPETH TOWN: Langley, Evans, Robson, Dowling, Henderson, Wombwell, John, Hickey, Foalle, Bollado, James.
SUBS: King, Chater, Taylor, Davison, Whitfield.
HEBBURN TOWN: Hunter, Heywood, Turner, Thompson, Donaghy, Elsdon, Noble, Van Zandvelt, Walton, Martin, Posthill.
SUBS: Devitt, Groves, Spence, Robinson, Adamson.
ATT: 517
