Morpeth Town were reduced to nine men but still progressed thanks to a 1-0 win over Emley in the Emirates FA Cup First Qualifying Round, writes Ross Jackson.

The Highwaymen scored decisively in the 44th minute, through Luke James, but saw Jeff Henderson dismissed just before half-time before Josh King followed his skipper off the pitch with five minutes remaining.

The Highwaymen started sluggishly on a warm day at Craik Park, with NPL East Emley creating the first clear chance on six minutes when Luke Parkin was played in behind but his shot from a tight angle was saved smartly by Dan Langley in the Town goal.

Danny Barlow, industrious throughout, had the first effort for Morpeth on 10 minutes, but his dipping drive didn’t drop enough.

Morpeth were seeing most of the ball in the first half but struggled to break down a resolute and deep-lying visiting side. This was symbolised by Will Dowling failing to create a half yard to get a shot off on the edge of the box, instead teeing up Nic Bollado to fire a shot that was deflected behind on 34 minutes.

The best chance of the half for the hosts arrived on 39 minutes when Dowling sized up a 20-yard free-kick. However, his effort was superbly pushed on to the bar by visiting keeper Dec Lambton.

Then came an explosive three minutes just before the break. Firstly, James would find the net, glancing a header across the keeper from Barlow’s cross to give his side the advantage. His first for the club, it was well taken as the header was far from straight forward.

Then, in stoppage time, came a straight red for Henderson. The defender was rightly adjudged to have hauled down Amir Berchill when bearing down on goal with a flash of red seeing the captain dismissed.

Leaving his side with 10 men for the second half, his team-mates showed admirable resilience and focus to limit Emley to few clear chances.

In fact, King – brought on for Nathan Buddle early on – seemed surprised when the ball landed on his thigh on 51 minutes, his effort going wide much to his frustration.

Sporadic shots well wide and over summed up Emley’s efforts as they struggled to break Morpeth down, and they should have had a player sent off themselves when Berchill, already on a yellow, fouled on numerous occasions including a late one on Josh Robson as he cleared. The referee took leniency to a new level, with Berchill subbed off almost immediately after as his management spotted what, potentially, was on the horizon.

Captain Alex Metcalfe forced Langley to tip a dipping 72nd minute shot over the top as Morpeth defended stoutly without being overrun. Langley then pushed away a low Harry Sheppeard shot a moment later as Emley began to run out of time.

King received his first yellow card on 87 minutes for knocking the ball a yard away, deemed time wasting by the official.

Then came the visitors’ last chance on 89 minutes when Metcalfe’s volley was gathered comfortably by Langley.

King then saw a second yellow, and subsequent red, for pulling back Al Keita, meaning the Highwaymen would finish with nine men.

But they confidently saw out the game to seal safe passage into the second qualifying round, with the draw on Monday lunchtime.

MORPETH TOWN: Langley, Evans, Robson, Barlow, Henderson (c), Buddle (King 8’), Dowling, Hickey, Foalle, Bollado (Steels 45’), James (John 88’).

SUBS: Chater, Davison, Taylor.

EMLEY AFC: Lambton, Sheppeard, Baldwin (Hardaker 14’), Metcalfe (c), Pashley, Barks, Parkin, Dawson (Fletcher 90+3’), Curtis (Lawrence 57’), Walshaw (Keita 57’), Berchill (Haigh 68’).

SUBS:

ATT: 402