Match Report proudly sponsored by Northumbria Print
The Highwaymen cruised to a comfortable 5-1 victory away at Atherton Collieries on a blustery afternoon in Greater Manchester.
Liam Noble and Carl Finnigan put Town into an early two-goal lead before John Welsh was sent off on the stroke of half-time. Joe Walton grabbed a brace either side of an effort from Jordan Cover before Jack Foalle sealed the win.
Morpeth started the came strongly and scored with the first opportunity when Liam Noble headed home from Joe Walton’s right wing cross. Noble leapt highest in the box and directed his header into the far corner on 6 minutes.
Dylan Glass raced clear for the hosts as they looked to draw level but Dan Lowson was equal to the effort when he blocked the effort at the near post.
That miss was to prove crucial for the Colls as Carl Finnigan doubled the lead on 13 minutes. A period of pinball in the box saw Finnigan see an effort saved by Wharton, Stephen Forster struck the post before Ben Sayer recycled possession. His cross to the far post was headed onto the post by Chris Reid before Finnigan nodded home on the line.
The wind was causing havoc for the defences as at one end the ball was holding up and the other was clearing their heads. Sam Hodgson had to be alert to block a header from Tom Bentham on the line from a corner.
As the half drew to a close, there was a flashpoint as John Welsh dived in dangerously on Finnigan. A melee ensued with the pair tangling on the floor before other players got involved. After everything calmed down, the referee was left with little choice but to give the red card to Welsh.
The second half began with Morpeth in the ascendency as they looked to make the most of their numerical advantage. Jack Foalle arriving as a replacement at the break was released by Noble before sliding an effort wide of the post.
Morpeth duly grabbed a third goal on 54 minutes. Joe Walton scored a fantastic, acrobatic effort when he produced something more accustomed to a judo mat when he scissored a superb strike past Wharton.
Whilst it was all going smoothly for the Highwaymen, a lapse in concentration cost them on 65 minutes. A quickly taken freekick was clipped onto the chest of Jordan Cover who chested it down and volleyed on the turn over a helpless Lowson.
The 3 goal cushion was restored on 68 minutes and again it was Walton who grabbed the goal. Noble once again was the architect of the goal with a sumptuous through ball to Walton who fired the ball across Wharton and into the far corner.
To the credit of Atherton, they kept pressing to try and give themselves a further consolation. Bentham headed wide under some pressure at the far post.
On 81 minutes, Gaz Preet curled a freekick over the ball but Lowson was equal to the effort, getting down low and pushing the ball away.
Forster was unlucky to see a deflected strike come back off the bar as the Highwaymen continued to press for a fifth goal. The ball rebounded back to Finnigan who screwed the effort across the face of goal.
Town did grab the fifth goal as it ticked in the final minute. Noble once again slipped the ball through and Foalle calmly rolled the ball home to make it 5 with almost the last kick of the game.
Morpeth return to Integro League Cup action on Tuesday when they make the short trip across the river to face South Shields.
Atherton Collieries: Wharton, Smith, Peet (c), Welsh, Lafferty, Battersby, O’Brien (Dunn, 46’), Holt (Cover, 28’), Bentham, Bailey, Glass (Conway, 24’).
Subs not Used: Lambert, Lynch
Goals: Cover 65’.
Morpeth Town: Lowson, Forster, Reid (Williams, 63’), Noble, Hutchinson, J. Henderson, Taylor (Foalle, 46’), Hodgson, Finnigan, Sayer (Turnbull, 73’), Walton.
Subs not Used: Mohammed, Robson.
Goals: Noble, 6’, Finnigan, 13’, Walton 54’, 68’, Foalle, 89’.
Man of the Match: Joe Walton
