Match report proudly sponsored by Northumbria Print
Morpeth Town’s 1-0 defeat at home to Radcliffe was a tale of missed chances as the Highwaymen slipped to defeat in the Pitching In NPL Premier Division.
Jake Thompson’s strike with 15 minutes to go proved decisive as the visitors left with all three points from their trip to Craik Park.
Despite seeing less of the ball, Morpeth created by far the clearer of the chances and will rue squandering them.
The first of those arrived on nine minutes when Jack Foalle raced in behind the full-back and found himself clean through on goal. Bursting into the right side of the box, he drilled an effort straight at keeper Thomas Stewart. The ball fell to Ben Ramsey at the far post but his goalbound follow up was saved by the feet of Stewart before it could cross the line.
Radcliffe kept moving the ball around with little in the way of end product, but it would be Morpeth who would create another glorious chance on 24 minutes.
After a ball into the box from the right drifted to the back post, Chris Reid sent a fizzing volley goalward. But Stewart was on hand once more to deny the Highwaymen.
On the stroke of half-time, Andrew Johnson nodded straight at Stewart when stretching for a loose ball in the box as the match remained goalless at the break.
The second half started much like the first, with Radcliffe having a healthy possession percentage but failing to trouble keeper Dan Lowson.
Town were still troubling the visitors, with Johnson sending a drive over the top on 57 minutes before Sam Fishburn spurned the best chance Morpeth would get, racing on to a sloppy back-header.
With only the keeper to beat, the striker struck Stewart with his effort, before it was scrambled to safety.
Joe Piggott glanced a near post effort past the far post on 66 minutes before the opening goal of the game arrived nine minutes later.
Thompson was the man to deliver it, getting clear of Ramsey, now filling in at full-back after Reid went off injured, before dancing round Lowson, then round Ramsey before slotting into the empty net.
Town had a late penalty appeal waved away, as substitute Dale Pearson was nudged over in the box, as his side tried to break the Radcliffe resistance with a late flurry of corners. But it was to no avail.
The Highwaymen are next in action when they journey to Ashton United on Saturday. Radio commentary will be available from 2.55pm on the day.
MORPETH TOWN: Lowson, Robson, Reid (Thomson 55’), Morris, Henderson (c), Turner, Foalle, Donaldson, Fishburn (Pearson 84’), Ramsey (John 84’), Johnson.
SUBS: Geliher, Millington
RADCLIFFE: Stewart, Brewster, O’Brien, Joyce, Smith, Thornley, Grivosti, Adams (c), Piggott, Navarro (Oyibo 60’), Thompson.
SUBS: G.Evans, Mercer, J.Evans, Rose.
ATT: 381
