REPORT: Morpeth held at Dean Street

Morpeth Town couldn’t find a late winner as they battled from a goal down to earn a point at Dean Street against Shildon.
The hosts raced into a third minute lead when Adam Gell toe-ended a shot past Karl Dryden early on. But Joe Walton levelled matters with a 63rd minute penalty with Morpeth pressing for a second goal which just wouldn’t come.
Morpeth, after shuffling the pack for Wednesday night’s 4-1 League Cup win over Willington, changed their line-up once more with a powerful forward three of Liam Henderson, Stephen Elliott and Jordan Fry looking to cause problems for a Shildon defence that conceded an average 26 goals from 17 home league games this season.
But it would be The Highwaymen who would pick the ball out of their own net first as Gell struck for The Railwaymen. He showed predatory instinct to toe-end a Billy Greulich-Smith header across goal past Dryden from close range.
The home side were looking dangerous going forward and should have doubled their advantage in the 14th minute but Adam Burnicle’s dipping volley on the stretch from the edge of the box, as the ball dropped over his shoulder, flew over the crossbar.
Although Morpeth were enjoying plenty of the ball around the penalty area, they were lacking a final pass or a killer finish to open up Shildon’s defence. They nearly paid for that on 26 minutes as the hosts threatened to put further distance between the two sides. However, following a neat one-two with Burnicle, Greulich-Smith’s strike from the 18-yard line was well saved by Dryden.
Jamie Harwood then struck the post on the stroke of half-time with a looping effort, which nearly caught Dryden out, taking a wicked bounce off the turf. On a deteriorating pitch, the first half ended with Shildon narrowly ahead.
Morpeth came out looking to influence matters in Shildon’s final third, with Walton’s lashed effort always rising over the top in the 51st minute as the visitors sought an equaliser. They pressed and used the flanks to better effect but it was the pushing of Walton up into a right wing slot, as opposed to his starting right-back position, which prompted a leveller.
The midfielder charged into the area and was bundled over before stepping up and smashing a 63rd minute spot-kick into the back of the net. It was no more than the visitors deserved for a much-improved start to the second half.
As the seconds ticked by, Morpeth, despite their pressure, nearly conceded an 88th minute goal from Daniel Moore’s header. However, Dryden, at full stretch, somehow managed to tip it round the post amid a crowded penalty area with the ball destined for the bottom corner.
Town could have nicked it themselves in stoppage time but Wayne Phillips’ deflected strike from the edge of the box flew inches past the post with the keeper beaten.
Morpeth are next in action when they host Team Northumbria on Monday at Craik Park (7.30pm).
SHILDON: Liversedge; Harwood (capt), Turnbull, Moore, Curl, Gell, Greulich-Smith, Hodgson, Burnicle, Waters, Robson.
SUBS NOT USED: Groves, Ellison, Duell, Banki, Proctor.
GOALS: Gell (3)
MORPETH TOWN: Dryden; Walton, Danny Carson, Reid, Turner; Phillips, Sayer, David Carson (McDonald 58); Fry, Henderson (Norris 78), Elliott (Davison 66).
SUBS NOT USED: Coppen, Coombes.
GOALS: Walton (63)
ATT: 327