Match Report proudly sponsored by Northumbria Print

Morpeth stuttered their way to their first draw of the season being held at home by basement boys Stafford Rangers at Craik Park on Saturday. 

Wayne Phillips cancelled out Joseph Berk’s opening goal for the visitors before Joe Walton missed a penalty deep into added time at the end of the game that would have won the game. 

The game got underway in Autumnal sunshine but there was to be no bright start for the Highwaymen as Rangers took the lead on 10 minutes. Joseph Berks was allowed to roam forward with the ball and he reached the edge of the area before unleashing a low angled drive that beat Dan Lowson and nestled in the bottom corner. 

Morpeth really struggled to make any impression in the opening quarter of the game and the visitors should have doubled their lead. Jake Charles tried an acrobatic effort that he didn’t get a clean enough contact on the ball to trouble Lowson. Alex Rae-Harvey was quickest to react moments later and Lowson had to make a stunning save. 

Morpeth reacted and Joe Walton saw his effort blocked before Liam Henderson crossed the ball low and it narrowly evaded the onrushing Sean Reid and Sean Taylor. 

As the half ticked on, Town were unlucky not to level when Chris Reid was set up by the impressive Henderson and Lewis King produced a smart save at his near post to keep Stafford in front. 

On 43 minutes, Daniel Burns was cautioned for handling a through ball that would have released Sean Taylor. In an identical position to last Saturday, Sean Reid stood over the ball. However, if Rangers had watched the highlights then they were in for a shock as he played it into the feet of Liam Henderson who teed up Wayne Phillips and the captain crashed the ball home. 

The Highwaymen came out for the second half with their usual verve and Chris Reid picked out Walton with a sumptous crossfield ball but the strikers first time effort whistled wide of the far post. 

The visitors came back into the game with Burns cutting inside onto his weaker left foot but his curling effort was claimed comfortably by Lowson. 

Jed Davies was next to try his luck as he cut inside but his effort flew wide of the far post with Dan Lowson looking on. 

With a little over a quarter of an hour remaining, Euan Garnett could have been the hero for the visitors. A cross was pushed clear by Lowson to Garnett on the edge of the box but his effort was awful and it flew high and wide when it looked harder to miss. 

Jack Foalle was introduced for Morpeth as they looked to come forward and snatch a winner. He was felled in the box by Rangers’ Robert Thompson-Brown but the referee waved play on. 

As the game ticked into added time, Morpeth won a corner which Michael McKeown swung into the box which was partially cleared but only to Michael Turner who saw his effort blocked. 

With 5 minutes of time added on at the end of the game, both sides pressed for a winner and captain Luke Jones was denied in the 3rd minute when his header was into the arms of Lowson. 

Morpeth countered and a long ball released Foalle who got to the ball before King and the ‘keeper cleaned him out. This time the referee did point to the spot. There was a long delay between the spot kick being awarded and taken as King required treatment on a knee injury. Fortunately, for the visitors, he was able to continue having used all three substitutions earlier in the game. 

It was just as well for Stafford that he was able to stay on as he brilliantly denied Walton from the spot as the Highwaymen looked to claim the spoils. 

As supporters turned and headed for the exit, Rangers could have snatched all three points. The ball dropped to Thompson-Brown in the penalty area after good play by Davies but he dragged his shot wide of the far post. 

It was a result that summed up the game with both sides creating a few chances but not doing enough to earn all three points. 

Saturday sees Morpeth play their biggest game of the season so far when they travel to Nantwich Town in the 3rd Qualifying Round of the FA Cup. Kick off is at 3pm. 

Morpeth Town: Lowson, Forster, C. Reid (Foalle, 69’), Phillips (c), J. Henderson, Turner, Taylor (Harmison, 83’), Hodgson, L. Henderson, S. Reid (McKeown, 74’), Walton.

Subs not Used: Mohammed, Potter.

Goals: Phillips 44’.

Stafford Rangers: King, J. Burns (Hill, 86’), Green, Jones (c), D. Burns, Harvey, Berks (Haworth, 62’), Coulson, Charles (Thompson-Brown, 51’), Garnett, Davies. 

Subs not Used: Sherratt, Dixon.

Goals: Berks 10’

Attendance: 517

Man of the Match: Wayne Phillips