Match Report proudly sponsored by Northumbria Print
Morpeth returned to winning ways with a deserved victory over a transitioning Gainsborough Trinity side on Saturday afternoon.
The classic away performance of keeping a clean sheet and dangerous attack saw Morpeth take the points back to Northumberland and help them climb the table.
The difference between the two sides today was Joe Walton who netted his 9th of the season to seal the win.
Gainsborough started the game looking to build on their recent resurgence with a new manager and several new signings. Rain as the game started made the pitch slick and the opening stages were dominated by both sides trying to find their feet.
Gavin Allott had the first sighting of goal on 16 minutes when he rolled his man on the edge of the box but his effort was poor and it rolled harmlessly wide of the far post.
Joe Walton went closer on 22 minutes, he showed great perserverance in the area to ride a few challenges but his effort was into the side-netting.
A minute later and Jack Foalle saw his header come off the bar but he was penalised for challenging unfairly with the ‘keeper Allinson.
The hosts came back into the game but some wayward finishing from Shane Clarke kept the scores level. Gavin Allott also the made the mess of a simple pass which would have left Clarke in a one v one with Dan Lowson.
The Highwaymen took the lead on 34 minutes when Joe Walton peeled off the back of James Williams to nod the ball back across goal and into the bottom corner. Stephen Forster had made ground down the right before delivering an inch perfect cross.
Moments earlier, Walton had headed a Sean Taylor cross off the near post with Allinson beaten.
Dan Lowson produced a moment of magic to keep Town ahead when he produced a point-blank reaction save to deny Allott.
The game continued to swing from end to end as Wayne Phillips and Walton were denied by lastditch challenges from the home defence. At the other end, Clarke glanced a header wide from a Curtis Morrison cross.
The final chance fell the way of Morpeth with Michael Turner firing narrowly wide from 30yds.
Lowson made another smart save at the start of the second half to deny Allott when he saved a header lowdown.
The moment of consternation in the second half arrived on 55 minutes; Jack Foalle was released by Liam Noble, the forward burst clear and rounded Allinson before the ‘keeper brought him down. The referee gave himself a long time to think about his decision before electing to show yellow as there was a defender in the vicinity. From the resulting free kick it was fired over the bar by Noble.
On the hour mark, Lowson once again came out on top as he thwarted Morrison and Allot. Morrison drove into the box before his low ball was tipped away by Lowson with Allott nodding the loose ball over the bar.
A series of half chances for Morpeth saw Phillips having an effort blocked before Taylor headed into the sidenetting at the back post.
The final effort of the game came the way of sustitute Michael McKeown who drilled a first time effort through the hands of Allinson and the ‘keeper was relieved to see the ball fall wide of the post.
It was a deserved victory for the Highwaymen who dominated long periods of the game and created several good chances that could have made the scoreline a lot more emphatic.
The Highwaymen are on their travels again next Saturday with a trip to Bamber Bridge. Kick-off is at 3pm and commentary will be live on Highwaymen Radio and through Twitter.
Gainsborough Trinity: Allinson, James, Green, Russell, Williams, Thornton, Morrison (Dunne, 64’), Chadwick, Allott (c), Clarke (Middleton, 72’), Lichfield (Batty, 46’).
Subs not Used: Maguire, Hannah.
Goals: N/A
Morpeth Town: Lowson, Forster, C. Reid, Noble, J. Henderson, Turner, Taylor (McKeown, 87’), Hodgson, Foalle (Harmison, 79’), Phillips (c), Walton.
Subs not Used: S. Reid, Mohammed, Thackray.
Goals: Walton 34’
Man of the Match: Dan Lowson
Attendance: 512
