EBAC Northern League Division One
Washington 2-2 Morpeth Town
(Luke Carr 3, James Novak 83)
It’s a cliché, but never has a ‘game of two halves’ been more appropriate than to describe Morpeth Town’s 2-2 draw with Washington on Tuesday Evening at Nissan Sport and Leisure Complex.
The Highwaymen dominated their opponents in the opening period, Luke Carr putting his side up within four minutes of the kick-off. The hosts equalised against the run of play through striker Mark Davison.
The second half saw Washington create a number of chances as Town struggled to get a strangle hold on the game. Michael Coghlan dispatched a 50 yard free-kick to put the home side ahead before a James Novak free-kick 10 minutes from time rescued a point.
The visitors had the lead within four minutes thanks to the energetic Carr. Sean Taylor picked up the ball on halfway and lofted a pass over the Washington defence into the path of Carr. The midfielder took aim left footed, forcing a fantastic save from Johnathan Carmichael, but latched on to the rebound, guiding the ball past defender Anthony Callaghan into the net.
The Highwaymen went close to doubling their lead three minutes later. Novak lifted a ball down the left wing, hitting Lee McAndrew in stride. The winger pulled the ball back to an onrushing Ben Sayer whose right footed strike curled just wide of the Washington right-hand upright with the outside of his foot.
Carr had a golden opportunity to double his tally and the lead on the quarter hour mark. Taylor played in Novak down the Morpeth left, the full-back picking out Carr at the back post who guided his free header wide of the target.
Carr was causing a nuisance for the home side and went close again from a 25 yard set piece. Just to the right of centre, Carr curled his left footed effort towards the top right hand corner, only to see Carmichael get his finger tips to it, and push the attempt wide. The resulting corner saw Sayer’s header tipped over the bar by the Washington stopper.
The dominant first half display showed no signs of letting up, the next chance falling to Taylor with a back post volley after an excellent cross from the left from McAndrew, Taylor’s effort sailing over the bar.
Skipper Keith Graydon was next to try his luck, a left wing cross from Novak was picked up by McAndrew on the right who rolled the ball into the path of Graydon on the edge of the area who hit a right footed effort just wide of the left upright.
The sucker-punch came after 32 minutes for Washington. A throw-in down the left made its way to the right foot of Aaron Croft who crossed with pinpoint precision onto the head of Mark Davison who guided a header into the back of the net at the back post from all of two yards.
Morpeth continued to create chances up until half time, the best falling to Taylor. After a long diagonal ball from Graydon, the forward cut into the penalty area from the left and fired a right footed shot just wide of the Washington net.
The second half saw the home side start to take control of the game, and a Morpeth mistake nearly gifted them the lead. Michael Hall’s clearance was blocked by substitute James Cassidy who played in Davison. His right footed strike from the angle was tipped over by Karl Dryden.
Another substitute, this time Michael Tait, went close on 55 minutes after the ball fell to him at the edge of the area, Tait hitting his effort just over on the half-volley.
Morpeth struggled to muster any attacking threat, but one rare occasion they did almost resulted in a goal. Ben Sayer with a slide-rule pass into the feet of Taylor in the penalty area. The striker, however, was denied by a sharp Carmichael save. The resulting corner was cleared to Graydon 30 yards out, who cannoned a right footed effort off the post.
Despite dominating the play, Washington struggled to test Dryden. That was until the home side won a free kick in the centre circle on 63 minutes. Michael Coghlan surprising everyone when he shot from 50 yards out, catching Dryden off his line, the ball sailed over his head and into the back of the net.
The next twenty minutes brought nothing but frustration for the visitors, who struggled to mount any threat, the home side looked comfortable with a number of long range efforts missing the target.
Morpeth were handed a lifeline on 83 minutes when Joseph Walton was adjudged to have handled the ball on the edge of the penalty area. Novak stepped up to take the free-kick, which was just right of centre, and curled a left footed effort over the wall and into the top right hand corner, via the goalkeeper’s back.
The home side kicked into life in the remaining minutes, the home side unlucky not to re-take the lead on 85 minutes. Coghlan’s right wing cross was met by John Butler in the six yard box, his touched forced a wonderful diving save from Dryden who tipped the ball round the post.
Next up for Morpeth is a trip to Garforth Town on Saturday in the FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round.
Morpeth Town – Dryden, Forster, Novak, Sayer (Anderson), Hall, Hiftle, Taylor, Graydon (C), Taggart (Chilton), Carr (Nellis), McAndrew.
Unused Subs – Wilson, Harrison
