Match Report brought to you by Northumbria Print
The proverbial game of two halves was on show in Nantwich on Saturday as Morpeth Town came from a 2-0 deficit at half time to defeat the Dabbers 3-2 writes Sam Donovan.
A hat trick from Liam Noble grabbed the headlines as he scored a treble that will take some beating in this or any season as he netted direct from two corners and the top corner with a free kick. This all came in the second half after the Dabbers had gone 2-0 up through Joe Cockerline and Connor Heath.
The Highwaymen got off to the worst start when Tommy Montefiori when over easily in the area under minimal contact from Callum Morris. Cockerline stepped up and rolled the ball into the bottom corner with Dan Lowson going the wrong way after 10 minutes.
The quintessential target man of Cockerline continued his bright start as he was picked out and tried to beat Lowson but the ‘keeper got out quickly to make the save on 11 minutes.
Town were struggling to find a way into the game and could only muster a few half chances through Ryan Donaldson who forced Cameron Terry into a comfortable save and Andrew Johnson who looped a header over the bar.
On 41 minutes, the lead was doubled through Connor Heath. The winger worked his way into the area and saw his first effort blocked before reacting quickest to the rebound and firing into the bottom corner.
Craig Lynch had stern words with his troops at half time and they came out firing in the second by immediately forcing the Dabbers onto the back foot. Callum Morris saw two headers cleared off the line in the opening minute of the half.
Morpeth got a foothold in the game on 52 minutes through Liam Noble who scored direct from a corner as he curled an effort into the far corner through a crowd of bodies.
Only 4 minutes later and he had his and Town’s second as he smashed a free kick into the top corner from 35 yards giving Cameron Terry no chance.
Jack Foalle was picked out by a deep cross and saw his header blocked on the line by the arm of Matty Devine with the officials inexplicably giving a corner.
However, this was to not prove costly as it was from this corner that Morpeth went ahead in the game for the first time. Liam Noble who had dragged his side level, completed his hat trick as he delivered another corner and this time found the net at the near post.
Morris had the ball in the net again with 7 minutes to go as the Highwaymen looked to put the game to bed. However, he was adjudged to have fouled Terry as the ‘keeper tried to come and claim a setpiece.
Johnson fizzed a volley over the bar as Morpeth continued to pin back the Dabbers but the home side were still looking for an equaliser after their own Jekyll and Hyde performance.
Deep into added time, Morris blocked a cross behind for a corner and then was in the right place at the right time to head off the line as substitute Callum Parker directed a header back across goal but Morris was there to get it to safety.
It was the classic game of two halves as the first 45 minutes were quickly forgotten for the Highwaymen as they stormed back and produced a resounding performance in the second 45 minutes to deservedly take the 3 points back to Northumberland.
Morpeth have a rare week off and can spend the week preparing to face Pickering Town at Craik Park next Saturday in the FA Trophy.
Nantwich Town: Terry, Stair (c), Devine, Bourne, O’Riordan, Haywood, Jarrett, Vaughan, Cockerline, Montefiori (Parker, 83’), Heath (Mwasile, 83’).
Subs not Used: Miller, Cook, Pope.
Goals: Cockerline 10’, Heath 41’
Morpeth Town: Lowson, Walton, Turner, Sayer (L. Henderson, 46’), J. Henderson (c), Morris, Foalle, Noble, Johnson, Donaldson (Hodgson, 79’), Taylor (Oliver, 66’).
Subs not Used: Reid, Ramsey
Goals: Noble 52’ 56’, 74’.
