Match Report proudly sponsored by Northumbria Print
Morpeth Town opened up their 2020 with a heavy defeat as they went down 4-1 at 10 man Lancaster City.
Morpeth started the game well with Jack Foalle going down the wing and putting in a beautiful cross that was met by the head of Liam Henderson but he could only head straight at Sam Ashton in the Lancaster goal.
Dan Lowson had to be alert to the danger when Rob Wilson worked some space in the area and saw his effort get deflected but Lowson was equal to it and smothered the ball down low.
The hosts were reduced to 10 men on 16 minutes when Sam Bailey was shown a straight red card for a high challenge on Joe Walton.
With 26 minutes on the clock, Ben Sayer tried to take advantage of the numerical advantage that Morpeth had but his low curling effort from the edge of the area was dealt with by Ashton.
The Dolly Blues hit back and could have taken the lead on 36 minutes but a volley from the edge of the area from Charlie Bailey went flying inches wide of the far post.
The hosts took the lead with 37 minutes on the clock as Paul Dawson steamed through the defence and clipped an effort over Lowson.
Morpeth tried to restore parity at the start of the second half but it was the hosts who got the next goal when Dawson grabbed his second as he rifled home following a short corner.
It could have been a third a minute later but the offside flag was raised despite another cracking save from Lowson.
The Highwaymen did pull a goal back on 63 minutes when the substitute Sean Taylor got the end of a knockdown from Liam Henderson and Taylor cooly slotted home.
Unfortunately for Town, the hosts replied immediately through Charlie Bailey as he fired home from the corner of the area.
Henderson saw his half volley from the penalty spot but it was deflected and took all of the power out the shot and it was claimed comfortably by Ashton.
There was still time for the hosts to get a fourth and Dawson completed his hat trick as he smashed home following a loose pass with 19 minutes remaining.
Foalle and Henderson both had chances to reduce the arrears as the game drew towards its conclusion.
Town will look to bounce back on Tuesday when they welcome Marske United to Craik Park for what will be what seems like 16th time lucky to get their Integro League Cup game played (7.45pm kick off).
The Highwaymen will be in league action next Saturday when they make the long trip to Derbyshire to face Buxton.
Lancaster City: Ashton, Bakare, Hudson, Wilson, Steel, Wills (c), Bailey, Dawson (Rodney, 85’), Blinkhorn, (Carsley, 79’), Norris (Feeney, 81’), C. Bailey.
Subs not Used: Fensome, Winder.
Goals: Dawson 37’, 48’, 71’, C. Bailey 64’.
Morpeth Town: Lowson, Williams, Forster, Noble (Mohammed, 75’), Turner, Reid, Foalle, Hodgson (Turnbull, 75’), Henderson, Sayer (Taylor, 58’), Walton.
Goals: Taylor 63’.
