The Highwaymen continued their strong start to pre-season with a comfortable 4-2 victory at Consett on Saturday afternoon. Carl Finnigan, Liam Henderson, Stephen Forster and Jack Foalle grabbed the goals as Town went four goals up before Consett hit back with two late consolations.
Morpeth started strongly and could have been two goals to the good before the opening arrived in the 11th minute. Liam Henderson and Andrew Johnson had both been denied as the high-pressing football forced errors from Consett.
Liam Noble delivered a corner to the far post and Finnigan arrived to volley the ball home into the roof of the net as Morpeth got a reward for their positive start.
The hosts responded immediately, and Jeff Henderson had to be alert as Consett almost raced through from kick off but their effort was blocked.
The lead was doubled on 16 minutes when the Consett lost possession in defence and Liam Henderson was able to stroll through in a one on one with the ‘keeper and he sent him the wrong way to make it 2-0.
On 24 minutes it became 3-0 as Morpeth threatened to run riot. Forster and Joe Walton played a neat one two and the former put the ball past his man before smashing the ball high into the top corner giving the goalie no chance.
Henderson was given another opportunity to add to the score on 32 minutes after Andrew Johnson had cut the ball back to him. However, the shot was tipped wide by the ‘keeper with others in attendance.
The hosts had a chance to cut the deficit on 42 minutes as Calvin Smith was played through and he attempted to lob Dan Lowson but the custodian was able to get a touch on the ball and divert it onto the post.
The second half began in the same format as the first with Morpeth on top and passing the ball well whilst trying to fashion good opportunities.
Walton and Sam Hodgson both had efforts in the opening stages but the Consett ‘keeper was equal to them both.
Our trialist goalkeeper on at the interval was called into action on 56 minutes as he made a good save to deny Orrell. The same player then blasted another effort over the bar as Consett looked for a goal.
Jack Foalle and Connor Oliver both saw efforts take deflections, Oliver’s forcing a fine save from the goalkeeper to tip it around the post.
With 10 minutes remaining, the industrious Foalle did get his goal as Morpeth won possession in the attacking third and the striker fired in at the near post.
The hosts pulled a goal back on 83 minutes with a shot from Smith that took a huge deflection off Oliver and flew into the back of the net.
Orell forced another good save from the ‘keeper but from the resultant corner Arjun Purewal was on hand to finish at the near post to make it a final score of 4-2 to the Highwaymen.
Sam Donovan
