Match Report Sponsored by Northumbria Print

Morpeth produced a dogged defensive display to ensure they left South Shields with a point on Tuesday evening. The game will perhaps be remembered for the 14 yellow cards that the referee showed over the course of the game writes Sam Donovan.

In a game of few chances, Dan Lowson was the busier of the two goalkeepers although he still had very little to do to preserve his clean sheet.

On 10 minutes, Alex Kempster was poised to pull the trigger but was denied by a fantastic block from Jeff Henderson.

The biggest chance of the game arrived on 17 minutes when Jason Gilchrist saw a point-blank header tipped majestically onto the bar by Lowson. In the ensuing scramble, Henderson and Lowson were able to deny Gilchrist.

The opening opportunity for Morpeth came on 19 minutes. Liam Henderson was bundled over 25 yards from goal and from the free kick, Liam Noble took aim for the top corner but Myles Boney was able to move across goal to claim the ball.

As Shields took their turn to attack, Phil Turnbull rifled a strike towards goal from a corner but it was off target.

As the game drew towards half time, Michael Turner was allowed to stride forward and he tested Boney who had to get down low to make the save.

Only moments later, Boney was again called into action. Liam Henderson won the ball high up the pitch and slipped the pass to Jack Foalle but he was denied at the near post.

Into the second half, Foalle was again released but was denied by a last ditch block from Craig Baxter.

Just after the hour mark, Darius Osei raced clear of the Morpeth defence but his shot was sliced and it went high and wide of the goal.

With 15 minutes remaining, Carl Finnigan put the ball in the back of the net from a deflected strike but the assistant flagged for offside. On first glance, it looked like a very tight decision.

The game was often marred from getting any sort of pattern as both sides committed a series of fouls which prompted 14 yellow cards.

Morpeth will no doubt be the happier of the two sides as they take a point following an enforced two week break.