Match Report brought to you by Northumbria Print.
Morpeth tasted defeat for the first time this season at home on Tuesday evening as they lost 3-1 to Bamber Bridge, writes Sam Donovan.
Jeff Henderson had put Morpeth ahead in the first half but that was cancelled out by a Mark Yeates free kick. Matthew Dudley put the Brig ahead with his first touch on 87 minutes before Ewan Bange converted a stoppage time penalty.
The Highwaymen began the game on the front foot with Liam Henderson forcing Roccia into a smart save in the Bamber Bridge goal on 9 minutes. Jack Foalle was unable to get on the end of the rebound.
The visitors hit back and had their own chance to take the lead on 20 minutes. Mark Yeates nipped in after a slack piece of defensive play but saw his effort saved by Dan Lowson. The ball fell back to Apter but he drilled his effort inches wide of the post.
Just before the half hour mark, Jeff Henderson forced Roccia into a smart save as Morpeth looked to take the lead. The visitors would be punished soon after by the same man.
On 39 minutes, Town took the lead through Jeff Henderson after Chris Reid had helped the ball into the box and Henderson was on hand to prod home.
Both sides had chances before the interval, Foalle headed straight at Roccia from Ben Ramsey’s cross before Ewan Bange blasted straight at Lowson.
Into the second half and Liam Henderson had the first chance on 52 minutes but clipped his strike over the bar after good play from Jeff Henderson.
A minute later and the visitors earned a free kick on the edge of the Morpeth penalty area which Mark Yeates curled narrowly wide of the near post.
He made no mistake on 63 minutes as from an almost identical position, Yeates curled the ball around the wall and beyond the reach of Lowson and into the bottom corner.
Morpeth looked to take back the lead on 67 minutes as Chris Reid climbed highest and headed the ball towards goal but it was tipped over the bar by Roccia.
The visitors began to grow into the ascendency and Apter had a couple of opportunities to put Bamber Bridge ahead but on each occasion he was denied by Lowson at his near post.
The pressure told and Bridge went ahead on 87 minutes. Substitute Matthew Dudley scored with his first touch as he steered home the ball from close to the penalty spot.
The points were sealed in added time as Apter was tripped in the box and Bange stepped up to send Lowson the wrong way from the spot and condemn Morpeth to their first home defeat of the season.
Morpeth have their first home game of the season when they welcome Atherton Collieries to Craik Park. Tickets are on sale through the club website as we look to welcome another bumper crowd. Kick off on Saturday is at 3pm.
