On a wet day in Lancashire, Morpeth Town were rewarded for their perseverance on Saturday as Joe Walton converted an 89th minute penalty to cancel out George Hassall’s 49th minute opener for Ashton Athletic.

Liam Henderson had the first chance of the game on 3 minutes but his header from Ben Sayer’s cross was glanced across goal which missed the far post.

On a skiddy surface, Ashton looked to gain a foothold in the game and they did so through Josh Nicholson. The tricky winger cut in from the right before driving his effort from 30yds that forced Dan Lowson into a save lowdown to his right.

With a quarter of an hour gone, Liam Henderson was again causing havoc in the box. This time his header was desperately cleared off the line as the Highwaymen looked to grab the game by the collar.

Tom Potter was causing the hosts some problems and he was on the receiving end of some rough treatment by the hosts. Unperturbed, the youngster cut in from his wing and struck an effort that forced Martin Pearson into his first save of the afternoon.

Luke Holden was the first name into the notebook for an agricultural challenge that left Henderson in a heap on the floor. Fortunately, the prolific striker was back on his feet in a matter of seconds.

There were few meaningful chances of note as the half wore on. David Carson tried his luck after a corner was only partially cleared but his effort was wayward and sliced off target.

The second half got underway and it took the hosts only 4 minutes to open the scoring. A dinked cross to the near post saw George Hassall escape the attentions of the defence and he nodded the ball through the legs of Lowson.

The goal woke Morpeth out of their slumber and back their came with Henderson seeing an effort get parried away by Pearson. The ball came back to Potter but instead of shooting, he chose to cross the ball but the danger was cleared.

The Yellows hit back through Marcus Cusani, the rangy midfielder drawing a great save from Lowson to tip over a fiercley hit free kick.

Adam Burnicle, Joe Walton and Jordan Fry all came on to try and change things up for the Highwaymen as they looked to force an equaliser. Walton was able to burst into the box but his last touch was a shade too heavy and Pearson was able to come out and smother the ball.

The course of the game took a dramatic turn on 89 minutes when Jordan Fry was brought down in the box after the ball had ricocheted in the area. The offender was Luke Holden and initially seemed to be sent off for the challenge; however, he received a second caution for trying to damage the penalty spot.

Even the incessant noise from the M6 nearby was quietened as everyone held their breath before Joe Walton kept his composure to smash home the penalty. The silence was punctuated as the ball hit the back of the net by the cheering from the masses of Morpeth supporters who had travelled to the North West.

The drama wasn’t finished there and Jeff Henderson thought he had grabbed the winning goal when he scrambled home a loose ball following a vicious inswinging corner from Sayer. The referee had spotted a foul on Pearson and with that the goal was ruled out.

The referee blew his whistle for full time and there was an audible sigh of relief as the Highwaymen had deservedly grabbed a goal their efforts deserved and to banish their demons from their visit to Brocstedes Park.

The replay is on Tuesday evening at Craik Park with a 7.45pm kick off.

 

ASHTON ATHLETIC: Pearson, Reid, Guffogg, Cringle (c), Holden, Joseph Nicholson (Webster, 84), Joshua Nicholson, Wilson, Hassall (Bell, 82), Bandell (Wilson, 83), Cusani
SUBS NOT USED: Raines, Munro, McLoughlin, Middlemore.
GOALS: Hassall 49’.

 

MORPETH TOWN: Lowson; Forster, Turner, Sayer, Petrache, J. Henderson, Taylor (Walton, 60), Phillips (c) (Hodgson, 76), Walton (Forster, 68), David Carson (Burnicle, 65), Potter (Fry, 70).
SUBS NOT USED: Ward, Danny Carson, McDonald, Hodgson.
GOALS: Walton 89’.

 

Man of the Match: Iulian Petrache