The Highwaymen recorded their 7th successive victory with a comfortable victory over a Spalding United side who are still searching for their first victory of the season.

Sean Taylor opened the scoring on 4 minutes before Adam Burnicle doubled the lead after 36 minutes. Tom Potter added a third with 21 minutes remaining before Wayne Phillips finished the scoring with 5 minutes left.

Town got the game underway in bright sunshine in South Lincolnshire and any thoughts that a five hour coach journey could have hindered their start were dispelled as their start showed their intentions.

In the opening minute, Ben Sayer tested Michael Duggan with a low drive that had the ‘keeper sprawling to his right to keep out the effort.

Morpeth took the lead that their start had warranted when Sean Taylor was quickest to react to a loose ball and rifled it home. Adam Burnicle saw his initial cross blocked before it fell to Michael Turner who delivered the second ball. Kern Miller managed to poke the ball away but it fell for Taylor.

The Highwaymen continued to dominate and Liam Henderson had penalty appeals waved away when he tangled in the box. The ball fell to Tom Potter who saw his lifted effort get helped over the bar by a covering defender.

Things became slightly confusing on 17 minutes when the officials took centre stage. A free kick from Gary King was spilt by Dan Lowson, the ball ricocheted around the box before it was blocked on the line by Taylor. The assistant flagged for a penalty however, after consultation the referee decided in his view it was blocked by Taylor’s face rather than a hand or arm.

Despite dominating large portions of the game, the Tulips reminded the visitors of their presence in the game. King pinched the ball off Petrache but the forward blasted his effort over the bar.

The lead was doubled on 36 minutes. Ben Sayer dinked the ball over a static defence and Adam Burnicle found himself with the freedom of Spalding to calmly slot the ball into the bottom corner.

The hosts were restricted to set piece opportunities and even these were wasted with James Hugo putting a free kick onto the main road behind Lowson’s goal.

Spalding started the second half the brighter and George Zuerner wasted a glorious opportunity to halve the deficit but his volley from 8 yards was hit well wide.

Just before the hour mark, Burnicle went close to adding his second but Duggan was equal to the effort when he palmed over the effort.

Keegan Everington went close for the hosts but his effort from 30 yards was always rising and cleared the crossbar.

Ben Sayer went a whisker away from adding to the tally when Burnicle cut the ball back to him on the edge of the box. His sidefooted effort flew narrowly wide with Duggan helpless.

Sayer was at the forefront of all things good for Morpeth and a turn of speed in the box saw him accelerate away from Conor Marshall before his cross was pushed away by Duggan. The ball fell kindly to Tom Potter who rifled the ball into the roof of the net.

The fourth goal was added in the 85th minute when Wayne Phillips burst forward from midfield and he was in the right place to fire home. Tom Potter waltzed his way through the Tulips defence before seeing his shot blocked by Duggan before Phillips got the rebound.

It was a comfortable victory that Morpeth thoroughly deserved as they dominated from the first whistle until the last.

Next up for the Highwaymen is a league game at Craik Park on Saturday when they entertain Lincoln United.

 

SPALDING UNITED: Duggan, Marshall, Hugo, Miller, Spafford, Fixter (Brownell, 46), Floyd (White, 46), Everington, King, Zuerner (Brooks, 53), Lockie.

SUBS NOT USED: Waters, Humble.

GOALS: N/A

 

MORPETH TOWN: Lowson; Forster, Turner, Sayer (c), Petrache (Reid, 73), J. Henderson, Taylor (Phillips 60), Hodgson, Burnicle (Graydon, 85) L. Henderson, Potter.
SUBS NOT USED: Turnbull.
GOALS: Taylor 4’, Burnicle 36’, Potter 69’, Phillips 85’.

 

Attendance: 135

MAN OF THE MATCH: Jeff Henderson