Match Report proudly sponsored by Northumbria Print
It was a worthwhile journey to the highest football ground in England on Saturday for the Highwaymen as they won 3-2 at a windswept Silverlands Stadium in Buxton thanks to a hat-trick from Jack Foalle. Diego De Girolamo grabbed a brace for the Bucks as they raced into a two goal lead within the first 20 minutes.
Dan Lowson had to be alert to deny De Girolamo after Tom Elliott threaded a pass through the defence on 12 minutes.
The hosts started well and raced into a two goal lead thanks to a brace from Diego De Girolamo. HIs first goal came from a cross into the box from Alex Byrne, it fell to De Girolamo who controlled the ball, turned and then fired into the roof of the net after a quarter of an hour.
His second came 4 minutes later, from an indirect free-kick being awarded for a backpass, Tom Elliott teed up De Girolamo who rifled the ball into the back of the net through a posse of bodies.
A battle was developing between Lowson and De Girolamo but it was the Morpeth ‘keeper who came out on top after 22 minutes when he tipped away a stinging effort from the in-form forward.
Michael Turner who had already made his way into the referee’s notebook for a crunching challenge on halfway was perhaps lucky to avoid a second yellow when he pulled back De Girolamo as he raced into the area. The resultant free-kick from Alex Brown sailed over the crossbar.
Morpeth looked to come back into the game and it was the returning Ben Harmison who came close after good work from Sean Taylor and Joe Walton ended with the latter crossing for Harmison but couldn’t keep his header down.
On 34 minutes, Taylor delivered another dangerous cross into the box but a vital defensive header from Connor O’Grady saw the ball clear the head of Harmison as he lurked at the far post.
Morpeth desperately needed to find a way back into the game before the interval and it duly arrived on 41 minutes. Ben Sayer swung a corner into the box and Jack Foalle reacted quickest to turn home the loose ball.
The Highwaymen drew level 5 minutes into the second half and it was a goal to win any game let alone draw a side level. A cross into the area was only headed away to Foalle who volleyed it hard and low into the bottom corner leaving Grant Shenton helpless.
Foalle was a nuisance to the home defence and after grabbing a brace, he almost turned provider but his low centre was just a few inches ahead of the onrushing Harmison.
Foalle completed his hat trick on 80 as he galloped clear from Liam Noble’s through ball and despite Shenton getting something on the effort, he didn’t get enough of a touch to keep the ball out.
The Highwaymen looked to see out the game but Lowson was called into action in stoppage time but he was equal to the header from Nico De Girolamo as the centre half climbed highest to head the ball goalwards but Lowson palmed the header away from danger.
Morpeth were able to get through 4 minutes of added time without further danger and claimed their first three points on the road since a 2-1 victory at Grantham Town in December.
Town are back in Integro League Cup action on Tuesday evening when they welcome Pickering Town to Craik Park. It’s a 7.45pm kick off and hopefully a big crowd can help the Highwaymen reach round 3.
Buxton FC: Shenton, Byrne, Brown, Lenighan, N. De Girolamo, O’Grady, Scott (Clarke, 85’), Chalmers (c) (Jennings, 72’), D. De Girolamo, Elliott, Hardy (Barai, 60’).
Subs not Used: Padden, Hinchley.
Goals: D. De Girolamo 15’, 20’.
Morpeth Town: Lowson, Walton, Reid, Noble, Henderson, Turner, Taylor (Robson, 80’), Hodgson, Harmison, Sayer (c) (Mohammed, 67’), Foalle (Forster, 86’).
Subs not Used: Turnbull, Hutchinson.
Goals: Foalle: 41’, 50’, 80’.
Attendance: 376
Man of the Match: Jack Foalle
