Match report proudly sponsored by Northumbria Print

Words: Ross Jackson

Morpeth Town slipped to a third successive defeat after a 1-0 loss at Bamber Bridge on Tuesday night.

An eighth minute Josh King own goal was the difference between the two sides in a game where a draw would have probably been the fairer result.

The Highwaymen, now only out of the bottom four on goal difference, got off to the worst possible start against second in the table Bamber Bridge, conceding before the 10-minute mark.

After Bridge right back Matty Thomson had sped down the right flank, he held up play before crossing speculatively into the box with a fizzing ball across. King got his angles wrong in attempting to clear, instead seeing his header go into the roof of the net to give the hosts the lead.

With Bridge’s front line looking lively, they could and possibly should have doubled their lead on 13 minutes when Paul Dawson slalomed his way through a series of challenges before teeing up Fin Sinclair-Smith to blaze well over the top.

As Morpeth settled into the game they recovered their composure, looked solid defensively and hard working in the middle of the park.

But their attacking output wasn’t firing as they struggled to create clear-cut opportunities. Jack Foalle had a shot on the turn deflected behind on 33 minutes but that was the best chance of the first half for the visitors.

The Highwaymen had the better of things in the second half as they more than matched a team much higher up the Pitching In NPL Premier Division, but Chris Reid couldn’t flick a near post effort on target on 54 minutes.

With plenty of effort and endeavour but very little end product from either side, Morpeth would have half-hearted appeals for a penalty with three minutes of the 90 left, but the referee adjudged Sam Fishburn being nudged over in the box when clean through as no foul.

There were plenty of positives from the performance, not least the solidity of the defensive side of our game, but Morpeth will be looking for points on the board when they travel to Hyde United for a Good Friday clash of huge significance with just four games to go.

There’s still very limited space on the supporter’s bus heading down. Email admin@morpethtownafc.com to book.

BAMBER BRIDGE: Goddard, Thomson, Skinner, Robbins, Pond, Wilson, Mariette, Dawson (Caton 84’), Cross-Adair (Stanley 63’), Roache (Lescott 63’), Sinclair-Smith.

SUBS: Churchman, Sinclair.

MORPETH TOWN: Lowson, King, Pye, Sayer (Ramsey 71’), Henderson, Reid, Foalle (Johnson 59’), Chiabi, Fishburn, Donaldson, Cornish.

SUBS: Morris, Robson, Anderson.

ATT: 473