Match report proudly sponsored by Northumbria Print
Morpeth Town slipped to a 1-0 defeat at Ashton United as a Kielen Adams first half goal proved the difference at Hurst Cross.
The Highwaymen made a couple of changes to their starting line-up, with Chris Reid’s shoulder injury ruling him out and Ryan Donaldson suffering the ill-effects of turning his ankle against Radcliffe.
In came Josh King and Fenton John, with Ben Sayer returning to the bench alongside Matty Cornish, who joined from Blyth Spartans on an initial one-month loan earlier in the week.
Town started competently enough and were organised and composed, putting in the ideal away day performance for the first 30 minutes.
A fairly even opening saw Morpeth have the clearer of the chances, with Sam Fishburn’s effort blocked on 11 minutes after being played in by the impressive John.
Fishburn would go closer on 17 minutes when he shot to the near post, forcing a smart low stop from Ashton keeper Andre Mendes.
Dan Lowson, outstanding on his birthday, pushed a Nathan Lowe free-kick clear in the 22nd minute before the Robins found the breakthrough on 32 minutes through Adams.
The striker, who scored in midweek at Marine, found the back of the net again. He took the ball off Michael Turner before unleashing a fierce rising drive across the keeper and into the far top corner.
With little to separate the sides before the break, the game would go into the interval finely poised.
Ashton would step up the tempo as they went in search of a decisive second goal but Town would have the first two chances of the second period.
Andrew Johnson sent a 53rd minute effort high and wide before Turner, when shooting on the turn in the box, saw his effort blocked by keeper Mendes three minutes later.
Then Lowson came to the fore, adjusting superbly to deny a deflected Jason Gilchrist strike, before denying the same player again from close range soon after. Sean Newton, on the follow up from range, was denied by a brilliant one-handed stop from the Town keeper.
Newton fired a 66th minute free-kick off the underside of the bar as the home side moved into the ascendancy, with Lowe pulling a shot wide nine minutes after.
Substitute Connor Thomson sent a shot over the top as Morpeth failed to find an equaliser before the final whistle.
Town will look to bounce back on Tuesday night when they travel to fellow strugglers Whitby Town. You can hear all the action on Highwaymen Radio, starting at 7.40pm.
ASHTON UNITED: Mendes, Baille, Newton, Baird, Regan, Milner, Gilchrist (Hobson 70’), Whitham, Adams, Lowe (Hough 90’), McKay.
SUBS: Lonsdale, Guilfoyle
MORPETH TOWN: Lowson, King, Robson, Morris, Henderson, Turner, Foalle, John (Sayer 76’), Fishburn (Cornish 54’), Johnson, Ramsey (Thomson 67’).
SUBS: Donaldson, Pearson
ATT: 247
