Match Report proudly sponsored by Northumbria Print
The Highwaymen advanced to the 2nd Qualifying Round of the FA Cup with a comfortable victory over league rivals Hyde United.
Goals from Liam Henderson, Kris Thackray and Sean Taylor scored for Town with the reply for Hyde coming from Bailey Gooda.
Morpeth started the game in the ascendancy but without creating any clear-cut chances. Sean Taylor crossed in a peach of a ball to the back post, but it narrowly missed Tom Potter.
Town did take the lead that their positive start deserved. Liam Henderson put them ahead on 13 minutes; an under hit back pass from Bailey Gooda left ‘keeper, Luke Mewitt stranded, and Henderson gleefully ran through and slotted the ball through Mewitt’s legs.
The visitors did look dangerous on the break and it was their right winger Dan O’Brien who looked most likely to cause problems. Fortunately, Michael Turner was in imperious form and on numerous occasions took the ball of his opponent.
The visitors mustered their first effort of the game on 26 minutes but the volley from Liam Tongue, 25yds from goal was high and wide.
Dan Lowson was called into action on 33 minutes. Jeff Henderson committed a foul on the edge of the area; Tongue stepped up to take the kick and drilled it low around the wall but Lowson was equal to the challenge and collected it.
Neither side were able to create any further chances in the first half and the Highwaymen were deservedly ahead following their best opening half of the season.
The visitors were out for the second half earlier and surely with a rocket still ringing in their ears following a disappointing open half.
Lowson produced a stunning save on 50 minutes to claw away a volley from Dan Turner as the striker turned on the edge of the area.
Morpeth responded in kind and Henderson produced his own volley but his was low and forced Mewitt to tip the ball away and prevent it from going in the bottom corner.
Mewitt who had not covered in himself in glory for the first goal, carried the ball behind to concede the first in a succession of corners for Town. It was from their third successive corner that the lead was doubled. Sean Taylor swung the ball into the area and following a goalmouth scramble, Kris Thackray was on hand to bundle the ball marginally over the line after 54 minutes.
In the aftermath of the goal, Jack Dyche was cautioned for his protests that it hadn’t crossed the line. Whether it had or it hadn’t the goal was awarded, and Morpeth were in control.
The next goal was always going to be crucial and it went the way of the Highwaymen with 59 minutes on the clock. Mewitt, once again could be held to some account for the concession. He started to come for a long ball over the top which he could have gathered but stopped; Potter played it back to Henderson who dinked the ball into the far post and Sean Taylor powered his header home.
With 15 minutes remaining, the visitors pulled a goal back albeit with confusion over the scorer. Tongue delivered a free kick into the area and Gooda got a glancing touch at the near post to divert it home.
A further goal for the visitors may have made it a nervy finale but in truth, Hyde looked bereft of ideas when they entered the final third and Morpeth were able to close the game out without being troubled.
The draw for the next round of the cup will be made on Monday lunchtime and will be posted on the clubs social media channels following it.
The next game for Morpeth will be on Saturday when they welcome Buxton to Craik Park for a 3pm kick off. The scheduled trip to Ashton United on Tuesday evening will be rearranged due their involvement in an FA Cup replay with Tadcaster Albion.
Morpeth Town: Lowson, Forster, Turner, Phillips (c) (McKeown, 78’), J. Henderson, Thackray, Taylor (Ward, 90’), Hodgson, L. Henderson, Reid (Mohammed, 84’), Potter.
Subs not Used: Giles, Wilson.
Goals: L. Henderson 13’, Thackray 54’, Taylor 59’
Hyde United: Mewitt, Hardacre, Brownhill, Tongue, Gooda, Fagbola, Pratt (c), White (Logan, 83’), Turner, Dyche (Benns, 75’), O’Brien (Lane, 54’).
Subs not Used: Lewis, Crawford, Thompson, McConville.
Goals: Gooda 75’.
Man of the Match: Liam Henderson and Michael Turner
Attendance: 551
