Report: Sam Donovan

Morpeth made it six leagues wins in a row to stay top of the Evo-Stik Division 1 East with a hard-fought but ultimately deserved victory over a dogged Ossett United side.

Morpeth started the game on the front foot and created the first opportunity on 4 minutes through David Carson. The rangy midfielder picked up a loose ball on the edge of the box and tried to get his shot away but it was blocked without testing Brett Souter in the Ossett goal.

As the game approached the halfway point of the first half, Morpeth were unlucky not to take the lead.

The ever predatory Liam Henderson was denied by Souter after he latched on to a short back pass.

Moments later and Carson was again unlucky to see his effort blocked before Sean Taylor saw his rebound expertly parried away to safety by the ‘keeper.

Jack Vann had the closest attempt for the visitors in the first half but his effort was wayward and cleared the crossbar.

The second half got underway with the visitors on the front foot as they looked to pin Morpeth back in their own half. James Burke had an effort from distance but a deflection took the pace off the ball and Dan Lowson was able to make a comfortable save.

Five minutes into the second half and Adam Priestley had a great opportunity to put United ahead but his header when unmarked at the back post was poor and sailed over the bar.

The only goal of the game arrived just after the hour mark when Iulian Petrache arrived at the far post to send a stooping header past Souter following Ben Sayer’s away swinging freekick.

If there was to be another goal in the game it looked like it would fall the way of the Highwaymen. Sean Taylor was denied by a last gasp sliding challenge from Alex McQuade. Taylor then saw another effort cleared off the line from a corner before Ben Sayer blasted well over.

Ossett had the final chance of the game when a skied clearance fell the way of Mbeka but his header was wild and fell comfortably wide of Lowson’s post.

In the end, Morpeth saw out the win without any real danger and maintain their place at the top of league.

Morpeth make the trip to Lincolnshire on Saturday when they take on Spalding United.

MORPETH TOWN: Lowson; Forster, Turner, Sayer (c), Petrache, J. Henderson, Taylor, Hodgson, Walton (Potter, 55), L. Henderson (Burnicle, 88), David Carson
SUBS NOT USED: Danny Carson, Phillips, Reid.
GOALS: Petrache (63)

OSSETT UNITED: Souter; Wilkinson, Burke, McQuade, Knowles (Basic, 72), Vann, Priestley, Gregory, Corner (Corner, 16), Porritt, Chippendale.

SUBS NOT USED: Hardaker, Walsh, Bird.

GOALS: N/A

Attendance: 344