Media team sponsored by Northumbria Print
Morpeth Town sealed safe passage through to the FA Trophy First Round after a 4-2 win at home to Pickering Town at Craik Park.
The Highwaymen lead 3-0 by the 69th minute thanks to goals from Ryan Donaldson, Sam Hodgson and Andrew Johnson. The Pikes reduced the deficit through two late Ben Clappison headers, but Wayne Phillips sealed victory late on.
The Pikes started well, without really threatening Dan Lowson’s goal, but it would be Morpeth who would get a first sight at goal when Liam Henderson was played clean through on nine minutes thanks to Johnson’s ball through the heart of the visitors’ defence. Keeper Adam Kelsey denied him with his legs before Chris Reid dragged the rebound well wide.
Henderson would then have a header cleared off the line on 19 minutes, after beating Kelsey to an aerial challenge, but the goal wouldn’t come. This trend continued when Donaldson hit the far post on 26 minutes, after Reid’s effort was palmed into the midfielder’s path.
But the deadline would be broken in the 29th minute when Donaldson struck. The former Hartlepool United captain picked up on a sloppy clearance from the Pikes defence to slot a shot across the exposed Kelsey and into the far corner to give the hosts the advantage.
The lead was doubled in the 37th minute through Hodgson and his second goal of the season. The midfielder picked the ball up on the right, outside the box, before drilling a low shot across the keeper and into the far corner.
Sam Barker put one wide for the visitors in the run-up to half-time, with Ben Ramsey seeing a shot deflected, as both sides went in search of a goal to change the complexion of the game.
Pickering, upping their urgency levels in the second half, created three moments of danger in the early stages of the second half, but Keita’s effort was deflected wide, Barker’s effort was straight at Lowson and Dom Joynes’ wind-affected cross was tipped wide by the Morpeth stopper.
Johnson would score the next crucial goal, making it 3-0 to the Highwaymen, on 69 minutes. The midfielder got there first to slot home Reid’s low cross from the left, from six yards, to surely put the game beyond doubt.
That’s not how the story played out though, as Clappison dragged his side back into the game. Two set-pieces, one in the 75th and one in the 83rd, saw the centre-back rise highest to nod home and put his side very much back in contention.
But they couldn’t find a way through, with Phillips settling matters in the 89th minute. Off the bench, the midfielder latched on to a ball 20 yards out before dispatching a shot past Kelsey to ensure victory for Morpeth.
Town are next in action when they host Grantham Town in the Pitching In NPL Premier Division on Saturday, November 6th. Tickets are available online via our club shop on the website.
Morpeth Town: Lowson, Forster, Reid, Oliver, J.Henderson (c), Turner, Ramsey (Walton 69’), Hodgson, L.Henderson, Donaldson (Phillips 59’), Johnson (Indalechio 73’).
Subs: Taylor, Walker, Morris, Foalle.
Goals: Donaldson (29’), Hodgson (37’), Johnson (69’), Phillips (89’)
Pickering Town: Kelsey, Fergus, Joynes, W.Taylor, Clappison, Johnson, Barker, L.Taylor (Alngohuro 55’), Keita (Broadley 79’), Brooksby, Holdsworth.
Subs: Thornton, Love, Harrison.
Goals: Clappison (75’ and 83’)
Att: 262
