Match Report proudly sponsored by Northumbria Print
Morpeth eased into the semi-finals of the Techflow Marine Northumberland Senior Cup as they started their defence of the trophy with a 2-0 victory over Whitley Bay at Craik Park on Wednesday evening. Liam Henderson and Sean Taylor grabbed the goals as Town overcame a stubborn Bay side.
Morpeth created the first opening of the game on 4 minutes, when a ball in from the left by Sean Taylor was taken down by Henderson but his shot on the turn was gathered by Dan Lister.
With 17 minutes gone, Henderson again worked space in the area but he got underneath his shot this time and it cleared the bar.
The Highwaymen were well on top without creating any clear cut opportunities. Ryan Hutchinson was the next player to go close but his looping header from a corner landed on the roof of the net.
A succession of corners for Town failed to yield the opening goal but Ben Sayer did go closer as he hit a low shot from the corner of the box that skidded off the surface and went narrowly wide.
Morpeth were to go even closer in first half added time when Chris Reid rampaged forward from left back and his rasping drive crashed off the bar and went over with Lister looking on.
If Morpeth were frustrated to not have broken the deadlock in the first half then they didn’t waste much time in the second half as Henderson scored on 49 minutes. Intricate play on the edge of the area from Ben Sayer and Taylor ended with the former crossing for Henderson who turned and rolled the ball home.
Prior to this, Hutchinson had glanced another corner wide of the far post as he made a great run across the box.
Lister was forced into a fantastic save on 58 minutes when Taylor played in Stephen Forster and the fullback fired in an effort at the near post.
The second goal almost arrived just after the hour mark and it came from some scintillating play involving Liam Noble and Sayer with the latter playing the ball to Henderson. He cushioned the ball on his chest before attempting a delicate chip that had Lister scrambling but the ‘keeper was able to get back and claw the ball away.
After 69 minutes, Hutchinson was again denied from a corner but this time from a point blank save from Lister.
The lead was finally doubled on 71 minutes when Taylor was played in and from a tight angle, his effort took a deflection off the unfortunate James Martin and into the back of the net.
Jack Foalle was introduced as a second half substitution and he had a flurry of chances but his efforts failed to test Lister.
Morpeth nearly added some gloss to the scoreline in the 90th minute as Carl Finnigan had a strike from 30yrds that was parried away to Lister but Foalle couldn’t fire home the rebound.
Morpeth return to league action on Saturday when they make the long trip to Nottinghamshire to face Basford United.
Morpeth Town: Lowson, Forster, Reid, Noble, Hutchinson, J. Henderson, Taylor, Hodgson (Foalle, 73’), L. Henderson (Finnigan, 78’), Sayer (c), Robson (Phillips, 68’).
Subs not Used: Walton, J. Henderson
Goals: L. Henderson 49’, Taylor 71’.
Whitley Bay: Lister, Smith, Martin, Lowery, Taylor, Anderson, Orrell, Robinson, Martindale (Olsen), Fairley (Proctor), Giles (Salmon).
Subs not Used: Bexton, Jennison.
Goals: N/A
Attendance: 305
Man of the Match: Sean Taylor
