Match Report proudly sponsored by Northumbria Print
Morpeth Town crashed of the Buildbase FA Trophy after a 2-1 defeat at Atherton Collieries. Josh Thompson and Tom Bentham had the hosts in control before a late Liam Henderson strike. Henderson was then sent off in added time.
The first half lacked any real fluidity as both sides struggled to adapt to a heavy pitch and both sides guilty of wasting possession.
Michael Brewster had the first chance of the game on 3 minutes but his close range effort was smothered behind by Dan Lowson.
On 5 minutes, David Sherlock thought that he had opened the scoring for the hosts after he rifled home after a loose ball dropped to him in the box. Fortunately for Town, the referee spotted a handball.
It took until 31 minutes for either ‘keeper to be seriously tested but it was the Colls who took the lead. A corner was whipped in and Josh Thompson powered a header into the back of the net which took a wicked deflection and left Lowson rooted to the spot.
Sean Reid had a great chance to draw Morpeth level as the game ticked onto halftime but he could only find the side-netting at the far post. This was the only chance of the half for Morpeth as the hosts dominated proceedings; Jack Foalle had been denied by a great save from Greg Hartley but was called back for offside.
Morpeth came out stronger in the second half but were caught out when a long ball forward allowed Tom Bentham to outmuscle two defenders and slot the ball home on 52 minutes.
Just prior to that, Joe Walton had a huge chance to draw the sides level as he looked to score his second spectacular goal of the season against the Colls. He drilled an effort from the corner of the box but Hartley was equal to it and saved it.
Town continued to push forward in search of a goal that would get them back in the game. Michael Turner saw a header blocked on the line following a corner; but the defence were able to clear the loose ball.
The Highwaymen continued to press and set up a frantic final five minutes when substitute Liam Henderson was found by Stephen Forster and Henderson coolly slipped the ball into the bottom corner.
Any hope of an equaliser was extinguished in added time when Henderson was shown a straight red card for challenging with the Atherton ‘keeper Hartley.
The Highwaymen will be in action on Tuesday evening when they face Marske United in the League Cup at Craik Park.
Atherton Collieries: Hartley, Smith, Peet, Welsh, Lafferty (c), Thompson, Hardcastle, Brewster, Bentham, Bailey, Sherlock.
Subs not Used: Conway, O’Brien, Battersby, Lambert, Cover, Cheetham
Goals: Thompson 30’, Bentham 52’.
Morpeth Town: Lowson, Walton, C. Reid, Noble, J. Henderson, Turner, Taylor, Hodgson, Foalle, S. Reid, Phillips (c).
Subs not Used: Harmison, McKeown, Thackray, L. Henderson, Forster, Mohammed, Wilson.
Goals: L. Henderson 85’
Man of the Match: Dan Lowson
