Match Report sponsored by Northumbria Print
Morpeth went down 3-2 at basement boys Grantham Town on Saturday despite Andrew Johnson netting his 19th goal of the season as the Highwaymen ended the game with 9 men writes, Sam Donovan.
Michael Turner and Ben Sayer both saw red with Jonathan Wafula also seeing red for his part in the scuffle with Turner. Liam Henderson and Johnson scored for the Highwaymen but Lee Shaw, Elliott Durrell and an own goal from Ben Ramsey saw the Gingerbreads take all the points.
The hosts had the first chance as Lee Shaw broke clear and saw his goalbound effort diverted around the post by Dan Lowson. It was from the subsequent corner that Grantham opened the scoring on 11 minutes and the goal had a touch of good fortune about it. A corner was cleared only as far Elliott Durrell and the striker cut inside before finding the top corner with the aid of a deflection off Jeff Henderson.
Both sides were reduced to ten men on 25 minutes, as Durrell kept hold of the ball from a freekick, Micky Turner ran in to get the ball back before getting into a tangle with Jonathan Wafula with both seeing red.
Morpeth with the wind at their backs tried to gain a foothold in the game after going behind and went close on 31 minutes with Johnson dragging an effort across the face of goal.
Connor Oliver saw an effort save by the diving Jim Pollard on 37 minutes and the ‘keeper got lucky with the follow up from Henderson dropping into the arms of Pollard.
Morpeth deservedly levelled things up 5 minutes before the interval with the goal coming from a setpiece. A Liam Noble corner was flicked on at the near post by Johnson and Liam Henderson acrobatically volleyed home.
Right on the halftime whistle, Henderson went close again with another acrobatic effort but he didn’t get a clean connection on the ball and Pollard was able to claim the ball.
Ben Ramsey who slotted into the left back position following the sending off of Turner, was in the right place at the right time to block an effort from Durrell.
The Gingerbreads regained the lead on 59 minutes, Ali Adymir hit an effort that Dan Lowson was able to save but Lee Shaw was on hand to head home the rebound.
Morpeth should have drawn level on 78 minutes; Johnson and Ramsey combined well down the left flank and a low ball was delivered into the area but Ben Sayer poked the ball wide from 8yds.
The task for Morpeth was made even more difficult on 85 minutes as Sayer collected a second yellow card for a sliding challenge.
Grantham grabbed a third in the final minute as a low cross into the area was turned into his own net by the unfortunate Ben Ramsey.
However, Morpeth pulled a goal back in the 5th minute of added time as Johnson turned the ball home from close range.
Grantham Town: Pollard, Tuntulawana, Storey, Leslie, Williamson, Hall, Adeymir, Wafula, Shaw (Bailey-Nicholls, 75′), Durrell (c), Wood (Stone, 86′).
Subs not Used: Townrow, Urwin, Clarke.
Goals: Durrell 15’, Shaw 59’, Ramsey 90’ (OG).
Morpeth Town: Lowson, Walton, Turner, Sayer, J. Henderson (c), Morris, Ramsey, Noble, L. Henderson, Oliver (Wombwell, 62′), Johnson.
Subs not Used: Forster, Ward, Wales.
Goals: L. Henderson 39’, Johnson 90’.
