Match report proudly sponsored by Northumbria Print
Words: Matty Hunter
Morpeth Town produced a spirited second-half display to earn a point with a 1-1 draw at Craik Park on Easter Monday with fellow relegation rivals Marske United.
The hosts went a goal down early through a Sam Hodgson free-kick before Ryan Donaldson levelled on the hour-mark to earn a vital point in their bid to avoid the drop.
The Highwaymen made a single change from the win over Hyde three days ago, with Ben Sayer replacing Fenton John in the starting line-up.
Morpeth started brightly and had the first opportunity of the afternoon after four minutes. Sam Fishburn broke clear but was denied by former Newcastle United academy goalkeeper Nathan Harker.
Then came the opener on 13 minutes through South Shields loanee Sam Hodgson. The youngster, after being given a shot at goal following Junior Mondal being fouled, stepped up and sent the ball into the top corner to open the scoring for the afternoon.
What followed was Marske growing into the game and the hosting Highwaymen struggling to regain their dominant position. Andrew Johnson saw his effort deflected wide of the target following a free-kick by Matty Cornish before Chris Reid had a shot at the back post.
Jack Foalle was introduced at the interval, in place of Tom Chiabi, and had an immediate impact as he got his side on the front foot against a changed system as Marske were forced to go 3-5-2 with the departure of Dylan McAvoy.
But the hosts would be let off the hook were let off the hook just after the restart after Mondal’s dipping, curling effort hit the bar.
It was on-loan fullback Connor Pye who had an opportunity next, when he played a ball short to Foalle who crossed it into the crowded penalty box and it was cleared off the line.
But the tide of the game would turn the Highwaymen’s way as they found a deserved leveller on 59 minutes thanks to Ryan Donaldson’s tap-in. The midfielder finished off a move that saw Josh King find Foalle in a pocket of space in the left-back position. The forward crossed low and found Donaldson who rolled the ball home to level the scores.
Both sides sensed the importance of a winning goal and went after it in the closing stages.
Pye fired an effort over the upright after good build-up and a clever cut back from Matty Cornish followed by a Ben Sayer free-kick finding the unmarked Reid, who sent his diving header over the target from close range.
On 72 minutes, Morpeth were once again saved by the woodwork as Mondal took a snap-shot at goal before it bounced off the inside of the post and away, with Dan Lowson beaten.
Morpeth were given another great opportunity to score with seven minutes to play, but Reid couldn’t quite reach the inviting delivery of substitute Liam Noble.
On 84 minutes, Harker and Smith got into a defensive mess with Morpeth pressing the back line but the latter managed to hook it clear from danger.
The Highwaymen face two huge final games of the NPL Premier Division to conclude the season. The first is a visit to already relegated Belper Town next Saturday, before they host Warrington Rylands in the final match a week later.
MORPETH TOWN: Lowson, King, Pye, Sayer (Noble 78’), Henderson (c), Reid, Cornish, Chiabi (Foalle 46’), Fishburn, Donaldson (Morris 90’), Johnson.
SUBS: Anderson, Robson.
MARSKE UNITED: Harker, May, McAvoy (Macdonald 46’, Chruch 84’), Kennedy, Burgess, Wheatley (c), Smith, Horbury (Cunningham 76’), Boyes, Hodgson, Mondal.
SUBS: Clark, Storey.
ATT: 651
