Match report proudly sponsored by Northumbria Print
Words: Ross Jackson
Morpeth Town earned three crucial points as they pulled clear of the bottom four of the Pitching In NPL Premier Division with a 2-1 win at Hyde United.
Magnificent from the start, the Highwaymen took the lead when Sam Fishburn scored on eight minutes, only to be pegged back by a Tom Pratt equaliser on 21 minutes. But Matty Cornish would have the decisive say on 57 minutes, scoring the winner.
Town made two changes to the side that were beaten at Bamber Bridge on Tuesday night, with Fenton John and Andrew Johnson returning to the starting line-up in place of Jack Foalle and Ben Sayer.
Town started brightly on the 3G surface, and had an early chance on five minutes when Jeff Henderson rose highest from a ball into the box, but the skipper, on the stretch, nodded wide of the target.
A positive start would be rewarded in bizarre circumstances in the eighth minute with Fishburn netting his sixth goal of the season.
After matching Jordan Fagbola in a battle of strength, the defender managed to get to the ball before attempting to knock it back to his keeper Dan Atherton. The pass fell far too short allowing Fishburn in, with the keeper slipping on his way out as the striker slotted home the opener.
Johnson had a shot blocked on the edge of the box and Cornish blazed over the top as Town threatened to cap a fine start with a two-goal lead.
Jack Redshaw blazed well wide from a dangerous free-kick position on 17 minutes, before the equaliser arrived for the Tigers. The ball was hoisted into the box from a Callum Spooner free-kick, nodded into the box by Bradley Roscoe, leaving Tom Pratt to use his thigh to control before volleying in from 10 yards.
Johnson sent a fizzing 42nd minute volley wide of the far post and Hyde’s Will Russ headed over the top as both sides went in at the break sensing victory.
Morpeth wouldn’t let the initiative slip from their grasp and started the second half brightly, taking the lead on 57 minutes through Cornish.
A ball was fired from one side of the pitch to the other, catching the defender under it. Substitute Foalle had the presence of mind to hold off on an aerial challenge, controlling the ball before cutting an inch perfect pass back to Cornish to lash home.
An entertaining game veered one way and the other with Henderson lashing wide of the target from distance before a disallowed goal two minutes later that looked dubious. Ben Sayer’s 66th minute free-kick went all the way through but the offside flag went up to deny the midfielder a goal similar to the one he scored at Whitby Town earlier in the season.
The Highwaymen, creating plenty of chances at this point, could have added a crucial third on 68 minutes when Connor Pye, impressive throughout, charged down the left side of the penalty area before flashing a low driven cross that was deflected back across goal before hitting the side of Atherton, who fortuitously kept it out.
Pye drilled another cross inches past the far post on 73 minutes before Hyde stepped up their efforts to equalise but found a solid Morpeth wall.
A crucial three points puts the Highwaymen in good spirits ahead of a massive game with fellow relegation-threatened rivals Marske United on Monday at Craik Park. Tickets available on the gate (cash only).
HYDE UNITED: Atherton, Ditchfield, Neavin, Spooner, Fagbola (Fleming 83’), Roscoe, Leitch-Smith, Iorpenda (Tongue 64’), Russ (Maieco 75’), Redshaw, Pratt.
SUBS: McCullough, Fearnley.
MORPETH TOWN: Lowson, King, Pye, Donaldson, Henderson, Reid, Cornish, Chiabi (Sayer 55’), Fishburn (Morris 88’), John, Johnson (Foalle 55’).
SUBS: Anderson, Robson.
ATT: 598
