Match Report proudly sponsored by Northumbria Print
The Highwaymen emerged victorious from their replay with Brighouse Town on Tuesday evening. A brace from Sean Taylor helped them on their way to the win over a hardworking Brighouse Town side.
Jack Lazenby fired the visitors into the lead before that was cancelled out by Sean Taylor. Kurt Harris put the away side back into the lead before Taylor grabbed his second. Ben Sayer sealed the win with a brilliant free kick.
The hosts began the game in the ascendency with Carl Stewart chasing the ball through and getting in on goal but Dan Lowson was out quickly to save at the feet of the striker.
On 12 minutes, Brighouse took the lead with a sumptuous from Jack Lazenby. Michael Turner brought down Jacques Etia and Lazenby curled the ball over the wall and into the top corner.
Instead of sparking the home side into life, the visitors continued to press and Reece Kendall looped a header wide from a corner.
Thomas Robinson was next to try his luck for Brighouse but Lowson was equal to the effort and palmed the shot over the bar.
The Highwaymen didn’t register their first effort until the 21st minute when Jeff Henderson saw a header cleared off the line from a Ben Sayer free kick.
As the half wore on, Morpeth grew into the game and it was Sayer at the heart of all good things as he had two chances but both were off target from just outside the area.
On 32 minutes, Sean Reid got the ball from a Liam Henderson flick on and he raced in on goal but his shot was straight at Finley Madigan in the Brighouse goal.
Morpeth saw their persistence pay off on 37 minutes and it was Sean Taylor who grabbed his first goal as he stole in at the back post to finish from a Sayer cross.
Even after the equaliser, Morpeth continued to press with Sayer and Potter denied by Madigan.
The second half continued at the same pace and the visitors regained the lead through Kurt Harris who lashed home an unstoppable effort from the edge of the box giving Lowson no chance.
That lead though lasted only seconds with Taylor grabbing his second of the game. Potter whipped in a cross to the near post and Taylor deftly flicked it home past Madigan.
The visitors continued to press and look for the goal to put them ahead for the third time in the match; Carl Stewart angled a volley wide of the far post with Lowson scrambling across goal.
On 67 minutes, Ben Sayer scored what to prove the winner as he curled home a free kick to rival Lazenby’s effort. Liam Henderson was brought down and Sayer stepped up to bend the ball home.
Sayer continued to be the heartbeat of the team and forced Madigan into another intervention as we entered the final 10 minutes.
Brighouse weren’t finished though and Jacques Etia should have scored when he side-footed wide from 6 yards box after Robinson had cut the ball back to him.
Robinson still had time from two free kicks, the first of which was blocked close to the line by his own player and then drilled one a couple of yards wide as the visitors pressed for an equaliser.
Despite 5 minutes of added time, there was to be no further scares and Morpeth advance to the First Qualifying Round of the Emirates FA Cup.
The reward for defeating Brighouse Town is another home tie with Hyde United. This game will take place at Craik Park on Saturday afternoon at 3pm. A big crowd is needed to cheer on the Highwaymen.
Morpeth Town: Lowson, Forster, Phillips (c), Sayer (McKeown, 88’), J. Henderson, Turner, Taylor, Hodgson, L. Henderson, Reid (Mohammed, 76’), Potter (Ward, 69’).
Subs not Used: Thackray, Giles, Wilson.
Goals: Taylor 37’ and 54’, Sayer 68’.
Brighouse Town: Madigan, Wilkinson, Grant, Lazenby (Haigh, 53’), Harris (c), Kendall, Robinson, Heeley, Stewart (Mintus, 72’), Etia, Cham (Khan, 69’).
Subs not Used: Church, Ryan, Arbouin, Donovan.
Goals: Lazenby 13’, Harris 53’.
Attendance: 503
Man of the Match: Ben Sayer and Sean Taylor
