FC United of Manchester 4-1 Morpeth Town
The Highwaymen were well-beaten away at FC United in their first away game of 2025.
The opener arrived just before the 10 minute mark as Gerald Sithole utilised his blistering pace and cut the ball back to Jay Fitzmartin who fired past the helpless Dan Langley.
The first chance the way of the Highwaymen came just after 20 minutes as Luke James showed incredible pace and tenacity to work his way along the touchline and cross, but Jack Foalle’s head met it and went straight at Conor O’Keefe.
The rest of the first-half was quiet with the only real action being Langley making a smart diving save to deny a header from Jordan Buckley reaching the bottom corner.
Ten minutes after the break Sithole utilised his speed once again on a counter attack as he got beyond Leon Gibson-Booth, saw his first shot one-on-one saved by Langley but tapped in the rebound.
Morpeth managed to pull a goal back from the penalty spot 10 minutes later via Fenton John calmly sending O’Keefe the wrong way. Luke James had been tripped in the box prior to win the spot kick.
FC United regained their two-goal lead quickly as Sithole received the ball 25 yards out and struck low and hard into the bottom corner, quickly followed by Adam Le Fondre producing a tidy finish to score a fourth.
The men in blue continued to fight on and almost instantly found a goal back when Fenton John crossed to the back post and Foalle brought it down, but he leant back and saw his shot fly over the bar.
Morpeth XI: Langley, Evans, Gibson-Booth, Hickey (Griggs), Henderson ©, King (Greaves), Foalle, Dowling, James, Bollado (John), Snowball (Robson).
Unused sub(s): Buddle.
Referee: Martin Beard
