Danny Barlow’s 97th minute equaliser ensured Morpeth Town a share of the spoils at the end of a 2-2 draw with Hyde United at Craik Park, writes Ross Jackson.
The Highwaymen had taken the lead on 53 minutes through Jack Foalle, only to see Jack Redshaw equalise on 61 minutes before Connor Heath put the Tigers ahead nine minutes later. However, Barlow would strike at the death to level matters.
Neither side really got going in the opening exchanges, both looking neat and tidy in possession without really landing a glove on their opponents.
Fenton John’s effort, dragged well wide, on 10 minutes was the first of note before Nic Bollado’s tame header was gathered comfortably by Callum Hiddleston.
The Tigers had their first shot on target on 16 minutes when Redshaw drove straight at goalkeeper Dan Langley, before seeing a header across goal go well wide on the 20-minute mark.
A first half that didn’t spark into life meandered its way through towards half-time, with Will Dowling’s free-kick pushed clear and Luke James’ shot-on-the-turn thumping the woodwork as the only real moments to set the pulses racing.
Whereas the first half underwhelmed, the second significantly ramped up the entertainment offering for those in attendance.
Rhys Evans delivered a devilish cross from the right on 47 minutes that eluded everyone before Dowling danced his way through before shooting low, but the Hyde stopper saved smartly to deny the midfielder.
An upping of the tempo saw Morpeth take the lead on 53 minutes through Foalle. The striker, leading the charts for Town this season, darted ahead of static defending to send a diving header into the back of the net and put his side in front.
A tight game turned the way of the visitors in a chaotic nine-minute spell, starting on 61 minutes with an equaliser. Redshaw, the leading marksman for the Tigers, added to his burgeoning tally, taking advantage of miscommunication in the penalty area to nod in unmarked at the far post.
Hyde then took the lead through substitute Heath, the forward tapping in after a brilliant ball over the top from Harry Bunn released Redshaw.
Morpeth proceeded to pepper the visiting goal with shots as they sought an equaliser, Barlow being denied by Hiddleston before James drove a shot straight at the stopper. Foalle, on 80 minutes, then fired a rising drive straight at the keeper and Bollado was denied when presented with time and space in the box as the home side grew increasingly desperate to level.
But they’d earn a point with a deserved leveller on 97 minutes, Barlow crashing a volley into the net after a free-kick was partially cleared.
Morpeth are next in action when they host Newcastle Benfield in the Newcastle Flooring Senior Cup First Round.
MORPETH TOWN: Langley, Evans, Robson, Dowling, Buddle, Wombwell, John, Barlow, Foalle, Bollado, James.
SUBS: Henderson, King, Griggs, Boyd.
HYDE UNITED: Hiddleston, O’Toole, Ashton, Jones-Griffiths, Baker, Amado, Thompson, Kershaw, Fearnley, Redshaw, Scanlon.
SUBS: Heath, Maltby, Whittingham, Bunn, Quadri.