Match Report brought to you by Northumbria Print

Dan Lowson was the hero as the Highwaymen advanced in the FA Trophy on Saturday with a thrilling penalty shootout victory over a spirited Bromsgrove Sporting at the Victoria Ground writes Sam Donovan.

A tepid encounter only really burst into life in the penalty shootout as Dan Lowson netted the winning spot kick after denying Miro Pais.

Morpeth started the game on the front foot and Jack Foalle was the first man in black and amber to try his luck after 7 minutes but was thwarted by Aaron Clayton who was quick to get out and close down the angle.

It took until the half hour mark for the next chance to arrive and once again it was Foalle who was shifted into a central striking position but he flashed an effort narrowly wide of the near post. 

A minute later and Connor Oliver who had came in an early change for Sean Taylor shot straight at Clayton after a good spell of passing from Town.

The best chance of the game fell the way of the home side on 37 minutes but with Dan Lowson out of his goal after clearing the ball, Connor Taylor shanked his strike at an open goal well wide under no pressure. 

Bromsgrove were struggling to fashion any chances of their own and were often architects of their downfall by constantly straying offside when getting close to the Morpeth goal.

The second half began in the same way that the first had ended with Morpeth in the ascendancy but without fully testing Clayton in the Sporting goal. 

Chris Reid had a couple of good chances as he flicked a header from a corner straight at Clayton on 69 minutes before two minutes later he couldn’t get his volley on target at the back post from a deep cross. 

With 15 minutes of the game remaining, Morpeth turned to topscorer Andrew Johnson to try and win the game in normal time and he almost had an instant impact. Johnson worked some space on the edge of the box but he saw his strike take two deflections before sitting nicely for Clayton to claim.

Johnson then bobbled a shot narrowly wide of the post on 77 minutes before Reid hit his effort wide of the far post on 81 minutes as Morpeth sought complete control. 

With a touch under 5 minutes remaining, there was a heart in mouth moment for Morpeth as Jamie Molyneux went down in the area seeking a penalty but the referee wasn’t interested and waved away the vociferous appeals from the Bromsgrove fans. 

With the game ending in a draw, it went straight to penalties in this FA Trophy tie. Joe Walton saw his penalty saved after Connor Taylor had scored for Bromsgrove. Penalties were traded with Dudmore, Shorrock scoring as did Johnson and Ben Sayer for Morpeth. Substitute Hallahan missed the target for Sporting before Foalle levelled things. Dan Lowson saved the penalty from Pais but it was ordered to be retaken with the ‘keeper off his line but Lowson again made the save. Lowson then stepped up and converted the winning penalty to send Morpeth into the next round. 

Morpeth are next in action on Tuesday evening when they face Whitley Bay in the Northumberland Senior Cup at Craik Park. Kick off is at 7.45pm. 

Bromsgrove Sporting: Clayton, Mace, Dugmore, Hayward, Cole (Wise, 19’), Kettle (c), Pais, Newell, Molyneux (Hallahan, 88’) Taylor, Ebbutt (Shorrock, 72’)

Subs not Used: Marusiak, Nchaso, Zazi

Goals: 

Penalties: Taylor scored, Dugmore scored, Shorrock scored, Hallahan missed, Pais saved.

Morpeth Town: Lowson, Walton, Reid, Sayer, J. Henderson (c), Turner, Foalle, Hodgson, Ramsey, Phillips, Taylor (Oliver, 7’) (Johnson 75’).

Subs not Used: Walker, Donaldson

Goals:

Penalties: Walton saved, Johnson scored, Sayer scored, Foalle scored, Lowson scored.