Morpeth secured another victory on Tuesday evening at Blyth Spartans to continue their unbeaten start to preseason writes Sam Donovan.
The Highwaymen raced into a 3-0 lead after 19 minutes thanks to an effort from Carl Finnigan and a brace by Jack Foalle. Blyth responded and got 2 goals back before the interval through Olly Scott and Panos Katsamagkas.
Both sides started the game in lively fashion with Liam Noble having the first attempt on 2 minutes but he fired over after a free kick had only been cleared to the edge of the box.
Only a minute later and Ben Sayer had the first effort on target but his header from the edge of the 18 yard box was directed straight at the goalkeeper.
The Spartans responded and forced a series of corners but strong defending by Morpeth prevented any opportunities being created by the home side.
Morpeth took the lead on 9 minutes and it was no surprise that Carl Finnigan opened the scoring. Jack Foalle did well down the right hand side and crossed it low across the box and Finnigan was unmarked 4 yards out to tap home.
The lead was doubled on 15 minutes and it was a moment of sheer brilliance from Foalle. He collected the ball wide on the left and cut inside before bending an effort into the top corner. The ‘keeper was at full stretch but was still unable to get anywhere near the ball.
A third goal was on its way and Finnigan was close to grabbing it. A ball split the defence, allowing Finnigan to strike from the angle but it was well blocked by the ‘keeper for a corner.
It was from the corner that the third goal arrived. A corner was flicked on at the near post by Ryan Hutchinson and Foalle was able to pop the ball into the net from a couple of yards out as Morpeth threatened to run riot.
Blyth to their credit kept working and got a goal back after a mix up in the Morpeth backline. A long ball was half cleared and with Dan Lowson out of his goal, Olly Scott was able to lob the ball back over the ‘keeper and into the net after 35 minutes.
The Spartans nearly grabbed a second as the mercurial Robbie Dale bent a low effort that forced Lowson into a save.
Blyth did grab a second goal before the interval through Panos. Lowson did tremendously well to tip a shot from Heslop onto the post but the ball broke to Panos who could slot home.
Morpeth began the second half in the ascendency and could have increased their lead through Liam Henderson but the striker was only able to fire at the ‘keeper. From the corner, Chris Reid could only steer an effort into the arms of the ‘keeper.
Henderson was tormenting the centre-half pairing of Michael Nelson and Kris Thackray. He hit another effort that went narrowly wide before Ben Sayer hit a similar effort which again went inches past the post.
Foalle had a chance for his hat trick on 68 minutes but he had to wait an age for the ball to drop out the sky and when it did, he saw his strike blocked by a defender.
Blyth struggled to create any further chances that would have grabbed a share of the spoils in the time that remained but Morpeth saw another effort fall the way of Henderson but his header was glanced wide.
Morpeth move onto Dunston on Friday evening as they look to extend their unbeaten run.
Lowson, Williams (Forster, 76’), Hutchinson, Reid, Turner, Oliver (Phillips, 76’), Sayer (Mohammed, 74’), Foalle, Finnigan (L. Henderson, 46’), Johnson (Hodgson, 76’), Noble (Trialist, 76’).
