Match Report: Morpeth Town 2 – 3 Ashington (Pre-season)

The Highwaymen tasted defeat for the first time in pre-season as they went down 3-2 to Ashington on Tuesday evening in an entertaining game, writes Sam Donovan.

The game started brightly and Morpeth registered their first attempt as a header from Nic Bollado was straight at the ‘keeper two minutes in.

Will Dowling went close on five minutes as his 25-yard volley struck the inside of the post before rolling along the line and past the other post with the ‘keeper looking on.

Ashington went ahead with their first real chance on nine minutes, as their striker got a bit of luck to get through some challenges before calmly slotting home at the near post.

They nearly doubled their lead on 13 minutes as a free kick from the edge of the area was bent around the wall but was comfortably gathered by the trialist goalkeeper.

Town grabbed their equaliser on 27 minutes as good play down the left wing from Luke James saw him beat the press before cutting the ball back for the trialist striker to finish from inside the six yard box.

Morpeth went ahead in first half stoppage time as the trialist grabbed his second of the game, powering home a header from inside the six yard box. The goal owed a lot to the work of Liam Miller as he tormented the full-back before standing up the cross.

The Highwaymen started the second half well and Matty Griggs was thwarted by the ‘keeper as he tried to lift the ball over.

There was a moment of danger for the Highwaymen at the other end, however, as the number 11 got forward and curled an effort off the far post before it bounced away to safety.

The trialist nearly grabbed a hat-trick as he was played in behind but he was unable to beat the ‘keeper from the angle on the hour-mark.

On 68 minutes, Morpeth had another chance to extend their lead as a deep cross from the right was mis-controlled and Bollado saw his ball back across hooked away from the line.

Ashington levelled things up on 72 minutes as a cross was turned home from close range.

The visitors then went ahead eight minutes later as a pass slipped their striker in on goal and he finished confidently beyond the goalkeeper.

Morpeth looked to respond and Dowling was narrowly off target as he flashed a drive wide of the post. But it would end in victory for the visitors.

MORPETH TOWN: Trialist, Robson, Henderson, Wombwell, Miller (Boyd, 57′), Dowling, Hickey, Bollado (Taylor, 85′), James (Baston, 85′), Griggs, Trialist (Davison, 85′).