A clinical Morpeth Town looked assured and confident as they claimed a 4-2 win at Blyth Spartans in their first game of pre-season.
Town hit the front in the 13th minute at Craik Park through Jeff Henderson’s header, before Sean Reid netted against his old club. Scott Fenwick reduced the deficit for the hosts, but Jack Foalle netted early in the second half to put Town clear once more. Dale Pearson did score from the spot in the 84th minute but Foalle was on hand in dying stages to seal the win.
Morpeth gave a debut to Michael McKeown and Sean Reid, with Shabz Mohammed on the bench from the start against a Blyth side who were six games into their pre-season.
In a quiet opening, it took until the 11th minute for either side to threaten but Adam Wrightson’s drive flew comfortably over the top of Dan Lowson’s crossbar.
That was a precursor for the Highwaymen to take the lead when Liam Henderson showed admirable persistence to win the ball back on the edge of the box before chipping to the back post for an unmarked Jeff Henderson to head home from close range.
Town would double their advantage seven minutes later as Reid marked his debut with a goal at his former club, capitalising on defensive frailties in the home side to slide home from inside the six-yard box.
It should have been three in truth in the 29th minute, but Sean Taylor, when clean through, tried to chip the keeper Mark Foden who stood tall at his near post.
Blyth did reduce the arrears before half-time though as they found a foot-hole in the game. Fenwick was the man to slot home, with Lowson scrambling after initially saving well from a clean-through Jake Orrell.
Town, though, remained calm and composed and restored their two-goal cushion in the 52nd minute when Ben Sayer’s free-kick wasn’t dealt with by the home side, with Taylor sliding a pass to the back post for Foalle to head home.
The hosts were still competitive, forcing McKeown to deflect a Wrightson cross on to the near post. But as the 65th minute came and went, Morpeth looked comfortable.
Blyth came within a goal when Pearson netted from the spot, following Lowson’s aerial challenge in a congested penalty area, six minutes from time, but he would miss another penalty with one minute to go after Ben Harmison was harshly penalised for winning an aerial challenge in the box.
Seconds later and the visitors made the victory safe as Foalle raced on to a long ball over the top before lashing past an exposed Foden in the home goal.
It was a solid, and deserved, win for the Highwaymen who started pre-season with a victory at Croft Park.
Morpeth are next in action on Thursday night when they welcome Sunderland Under-23s to Craik Park for a friendly which kicks-off at 7.30pm.
BLYTH SPARTANS: Foden; Evans, Callaghan, Mouanda, Devitt, Hutchinson, Wrightson, Spooner, Fenwick (Pearson 60), Orrell (Butler 74), Trialist A.
SUBS NOT USED: Nearney, Pearson, Butler, Robson, Trialist B, Trialist C.
GOALS: Scott Fenwick (42), Dale Pearson (84 PEN)
MORPETH TOWN: Lowson; Walton (Forster 46), Phillips (Mohammed 46), Sayer (Phillips 70), J.Henderson, McKeown, Taylor (Trialist A), Hodgson, L.Henderson (Harmison 46), S.Reid (Walton 52), Potter (Foalle 46).
SUBS NOT USED: Harmison, Foalle, Forster, Mohammed, Trialist A, Trialist B, Trialist C.
GOALS: Jeff Henderson (13), Sean Reid (20), Jack Foalle (52, 90)
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