Match Report brought to you by Northumbria Print
The Highwaymen eased their way into the next round of the Emirates FA Cup with a comfortable 4-1 win over Lancaster City at Craik Park writes Sam Donovan.
Carl Finnigan opened the scoring before Morpeth were pegged back by Paul Dawson. However, just before the interval a penalty and red card for Niall Cowperthwaite changed the complexion of the game. Ryan Donaldson converted before further strikes from Jeff Henderson and Andrew Johnson added gloss to the result.
Town started the game well and Andrew Johnson tried to produce a carbon copy of his goal from Tuesday evening in the 2-2 draw with Lancaster City. However, Matt Alexander learnt his lesson and was able to claw away a shot that was destined for the top corner.
Morpeth took the lead in the 4th minute. A ball over top released Jack Foalle who cut the ball back to Andrew Johnson who slid a ball across goal for Carl Finnigan to net his first goal of the season.
Lancaster came back into the game and Simon Wills sent a volley wide of the post after a clearance was headed only as far as the midfielder on the edge of the ‘D’.
The visitors levelled things on 13 minutes when a corner was met at the near post by Paul Dawson who nodded home past Dan Lowson.
The visitors had the chance to take the lead on 24 minutes and it owed to a good advantage from the referee. The ball broke kindly for Wills but he saw a low effort deflect off the heels of Jack Foalle.
The turning point of the game arrived shortly before half time as a long ball over the top was brought down by Finnigan who went to ground under pressure from Niall Cowperthwaite. There was a coming together between the pair and the assistant on the near side flagged. A brief discussion resulted in a red for Cowperthwaite for the foul as the last man and he was deemed to have made no attempt to play the ball and a penalty.
Ryan Donaldson stepped up and converted his second penalty of the season as he sent Alexander the wrong way.
With a man advantage, Morpeth looked dangerous every time they came forward. Johnson broke clear down the left and he fed Ben Sayer who saw his strike blocked on the edge of the area before the rebound dropped to Donaldson but his effort was deflected wide.
Morpeth added a third in the 59th minute, a free kick from Liam Noble was flicked on by an unmarked Micky Turner and was bundled home by Jeff Henderson.
The Dolly Blues had two chances in quick succession as Tom Killfin burst into the area, his initial shot was blocked by Turner and then his second shot was blocked by Noble.
The game was sealed with 5 minutes remaining as Andrew Johnson cut inside and curled an effort into the bottom corner giving Matt Alexander no chance.
The Highwaymen saw out the rest of the game with no pressure from the visitors who had battled well with ten men.
Morpeth head into the next round of the FA Cup with the next round being drawn on Monday lunchtime.
Town are next in action on Saturday when they make the long trip to Derbyshire to face Buxton.
Morpeth Town: Lowson, Walton, Taylor, Sayer (Millington, 90’), Henderson (c), Turner, Foalle (O’Connor, 89’) Noble, Finnigan (Geliher, 90’), Donaldson, Johnson.
Subs not Used: Walker
Goals: Finnigan 4’, Donaldson 42’ (p), Henderson 59’, Johnson 86’
Lancaster City: Alexander, Fensome, Brockbank, Wills (S. Bailey, 81’), Teague (c), Cowperthwaite, C. Bailey, Ikpakwu (Hudson, 43’), Turner (Wilson, 28’), Dawson, Killfin
Subs not Used: Graham, Povey, Darley, Henry
Goals: Dawson 13’
