A bizarre night ended in controversial fashion as Morpeth Town’s trip to Sunderland RCA ended earlier than expected due to fog.
Leading 2-0 by the early stages of the second half, the Highwaymen were well on their way to an impressive victory. However, confusion began to reign when one of the assistant referees stepped on to the pitch to draw the attention of the referee.
After a brief discussion, it was decided to suspend play for 20 minutes to see if the fog would clear. Although visibility had improved when comparing the first half with the second, the officials, following a second inspection, decided visibility wasn’t good enough to continue.
The decision left the Morpeth camp hugely frustrated after the game had been declared on prior to kick-off, with the second half given the go ahead too.
What will agitate the Highwaymen most is the dominant position they held in the game up until the point of abandonment.
Mark Davison had given the visitors the advantage in the 16th minute, side-footing his effort into the back of the net from six yards after being afforded acres of space in the area following a pin-point Joe Walton cross.
That lead was doubled six minutes before half-time when a Ben Sayer corner to the near post caused chaos with a Sunderland RCA man getting the final touch as the ball was deflected into the net.
With Morpeth rampant, they looked set for a comfortable win until play was drawn to an early conclusion.
MORPETH TOWN: Dryden, Forster, Coppen, Carson, Reid, Walton, Phillips, Sayer, Graydon, Taylor, Davison.
SUBS NOT USED: Carr, Turner, Henderson, Fry, Orrell.
GOALS: Davison (16), OG (39)
SUNDERLAND RCA: Bussey, Davis, Noble, McGuinness, Richardson, Elliott, Charlton, Page, Butler, O’Neill, Cassidy.
SUBS NOT USED: Fowler, Patton, Moan, Stewart, Humble.
