Match Report proudly sponsored by Northumbria Print
Morpeth suffered FA Cup heartache when they at Nantwich Town. Joe Mwasile was the hero for the Dabbers when he poked the ball home in the final minute of added time at the Weaver Stadium.
The opening few minutes were disrupted by a series of fouls that set the tone for the rest of the game.
The first shot of the game fell to Sean Taylor when the diminutive winger cut inside but curled his effort over the bar.
The hosts responded with Matthew Devine slicing his effort wide from 15yds.
On 12 minutes, debutant Liam Noble had the first real effort of note when he took a free kick after Joe Walton had been fouled. The former Hartlepool player curled the free kick up and over the wall but it was straight at Gregory Hall in the Nantwich goal.
Five minutes later and there was a slight moment of danger for Town. Sam Hodgson was penalised for a foul inside the centre circle. Sean Cooke spotted Dan Lowson was off his line and tried an audacious effort that cleared the crossbar.
The opening quarter of the game had seen neither ‘keeper really tested but Sean Taylor looked to change that as he danced his way past his marker before dinking a cross that eluded Hall but unfortunately also cleared his crossbar.
The hosts replied once again and the diminutive Cooke was about the heart of everything good about Nantwich. On this occasion his free kick cleared the wall but clipped the crossbar before going over the bar.
The Dabbers continued to press forward as the half wore on but it whilst Cooke and Luke Walsh got into dangerous positions they weren’t able to test Lowson.
The second half started in the same fashion as the first had with Morpeth seeing a lot of the ball without creating a clear cut opportunity.
Five minutes into the second half and Cooke lifted the ball over the bar after a free kick had been clipped into the box.
Just before the hour, Noble was stood over a free kick as Morpeth looked to take advantage of their height at set pieces. The ball was delivered well but it deflected off a Nantwich thigh and looped up into the hands of Hall.
The home side continued to come forward as they looked to snatch a winner. Joseph Malkin teed up Cooke on 70 minutes but the shot whistled well wide of the post.
In the 74th minute, Malkin turned smartly 30yds from goal but his shot as he swivilled was staright down the throat of Lowson.
As the game approached it’s finale, Morpeth made changes with Ben Harmison, Michael McKeown and Jack Foalle all entered the fray but depsite their best efforts were unable to create a chance that would test Hall.
As the game ticked into added time, Jospeh Davis was able to deliver a cross into the box. Malkin challenged for the ball in the air and it broke kindly for their substitue Joe Mwasile who was able to poke the ball home sparking wild celebrations amongst the home supporters.
There was barely enough time for the game to kick off as Morpeth had seen their chances of securing a deserved replay snatched away with almost the last kick of the game.
Attention turns back to the league on Tuesday evening when the Highwaymen make the long trip to Derbyshire to face Mickleover Sports.
Morpeth are back at Craik Park on the 12th October when they welcome Basford United; kick off is at 3pm.
Nantwich Town: Hall, Davis, Devine, Stair, Langley, Hughes (c), Lawrie, Webb, Malkin, Cooke, Walsh (Mwasile, 87’).
Subs not Used: Bell, Read, Bourne, McDonald, Schousboe, Parker.
Goals: Mwasile 90+3’.
Morpeth Town: Lowson, Forster, C. Reid, Nobel, J. Henderson (c), Turner, Taylor, Hodgson, L. Henderson (Harmison, 78’), S. Reid (Foalle, 71’), Walton (McKeown, 80’).
Subs not Used: Mohammed, Potter, Walker, Thackray.
Goals: N/A
Man of the Match: Michael Turner
Attendance: 476
