Morpeth reached the semi-finals of the Techflow Marine Group Northumberland Senior Cup with a deserved victory over a battling Heaton Stannington side.

Jack Foalle, Stuart Mott and Iulian Petrache grabbed the goals for the Highwaymen with Joe Kerridge and Connor Campbell replying for the hosts.

Town started the game on the front foot and Ben Sayer saw an early effort blocked as he struck an effort from the edge of the area.

The first goal of the game arrived on 11 minutes when a long ball reached Jack Foalle who was composed enough to round Dan Regan before rolling the ball into the back of the net to give the Highwaymen the lead.

Only moments later and Stuart Mott went close to grabbing his first for the club but his shot on the turn from a corner was narrowly wide of the post.

Morpeth may have thought that the hosts would come out and try to get back on level terms after this early setback but it was all Morpeth as they dominated possession and fashioning a fair number of chances.

Jeff Henderson rampaged forward at will and on 16 minutes played a neat 1-2 with Liam Henderson but his shot was blocked despite strong appeals for handball. Nothing was given, and the Stan survived this attack.

Liam Henderson should have doubled the advantage on 22 minutes but somehow managed to find the arms of Regan from only a matter of inches out. Ben Sayer swung a corner into the box that Mott headed towards goal, but Henderson couldn’t direct it into the back of the net.

The hosts finally awoke from their slumber and drew level on 30 minutes. Joe Kerridge was the scorer, but a lot of the work was down to Lewis Burns who did well down the Stan right before cutting infield and the ball fell to Kerridge who calmly swept the ball past Tsapalos.

Foalle must have thought that his luck was in tonight as he was released once more but this time Regan blocked his effort with his legs. The hosts were guilty of giving away the ball and on one occasion, Foalle was put through with only Regan to beat but the ‘keeper stood tall and blocked it away.

The second half began with how the majority of the first had been played. Morpeth dominating possession and creating good opportunities but finding Regan in inspired form. Regan was beaten on 50 minutes, but the woodwork came to his rescue to deny Iulian Petrache from a corner.

However, Regan was beaten only moments later. Heaton backed off and allowed Mott to come forward and was invited to shoot which he did so, and Regan misjudged the flight of the ball as it went straight through him.

Morepth looked to put their foot down and Foalle was denied by Regan three times in as many minutes as the pair continued their duel.

Regan was beaten again on 84 minutes with Iulian Petrache rising at the back post to power home a header off the underside of the bar to seemingly seal the win.

Only minutes later and Foalle did beat Regan again but his effort kissed the outside of the post before going out of play.

The hosts who had been on the back foot for the majority of the game gave their supporters hope in the last minute. Jeff Henderson brought down a Heaton player and the referee pointed to the spot. Connor Campbell stepped up and buried his penalty into the top corner.

Despite three minutes of added time, there was to be no further worries for the Highwaymen.

Morpeth return to league action on Saturday when they make the trip to North Yorkshire to take on Pickering Town.

 

HEATON STANNINGTON: Regan, Middleton, Sayer, Hall, Miller, Fulcher (Robertson, 75), Mason (Imray, 54), Charmey, Campbell, Burns, Kerridge (Martin, 79).

SUBS NOT USED: Hoggins

GOALS: Kerridge 30’, Campbell (P) 90’.

 

MORPETH TOWN: Tsapalos, Walton, Mott, Sayer, Petrache, J. Henderson, Foalle, Graydon (Forster, 79), L. Henderson (Taylor, 67), Phillips (c), Potter (David Carson, 67).

SUBS NOT USED: Turner, Hodgson

GOALS: Foalle 11’, Mott 54’, Petrache 84’.

ATTENDANCE: 240