Victorious Morpeth Town eased into the quarter-finals of the League Cup courtesy of a 4-1 thumping of second division Willington which sets up a quarter-final clash at home to Stockton Town.
A dominant display saw Town in front as early as the 18th minute through Joe Walton before Wayne Phillips struck 16 minutes later. Jeffrey Smith reduced the deficit just before half-time but it would prove a mere consolation as The Highwaymen progressed with another Walton goal 13 minutes into the second half before Mark Davison found the net in the 73rd minute.
In truth, the score-line was deserved as Morpeth played with a confidence and composure which highlighted the gap between them and their second division opponents. The back four did everything they needed to as they spent much of the game admiring a midfield performance which saw excellent ball retention and constant recycling of the ball as they sought a breakthrough.
Morpeth made all the early running, with Stephen Elliott prominent as the home side found the left flank a profitable area of the pitch with the Willington full-back affording the former Republic of Ireland international too much space and time on the ball. This resulted in a sixth minute chance for the forward, but his dipping strike was straight at Willington’s Craig Hannant.
But the first goal would arrive for a dominant Town in the 18th minute, with Walton netting from the spot. He confidently struck from 12 yards after being felled in the area seconds earlier. It was a well-deserved lead for the Highwaymen who were increasingly controlling the game with an impressive assurance.
So, it was perhaps predictable that Morpeth would double their lead with a second goal on 34 minutes. Captain for the night Phillips was the man to find the net, dancing his way into the area before smashing a near post shot into the back of the net.
The next goal would surely put the hosts out of sight and Jordan Fry thought he had registered the third. However, his looping header bounced back off the bar eight minutes before the interval. But the game would be thrown back into the balance in the 43rd minute when Smith’s deflected strike, off the outstretched leg of Curtis Coppen, looped over Karl Dryden and in.
Despite a spirited start to the second half from Willington, it would be Morpeth who restored their two-goal advantage on 58 minutes, Walton finding the net at the back post after persistence paid off for Phillips in the build-up.
Ben Sayer went close for the home side in the 69th minute but his sweetly struck drive found Hannant in impressive form as he pushed it over the top. The stopper then denied David Carson with a flying save, but he could do nothing about Davison’s close-range effort; the striker, who had worked tirelessly, slotting home from inside the six-yard box after the ball fell favourably.
Town are next in action when they travel to Shildon on Saturday for a crucial Division One clash. There are still spaces available on the supporters’ bus, costing £10 for adults (kids are free). Contact Lee Crossley on 07932580810 to book your spot on the bus which leaves at 1pm on Saturday from the Sun Inn pub.
MORPETH TOWN: Dryden; Danny Carson, Coppen, Turner, McDonald; David Carson, Phillips (capt) (Reid 77), Fry (Sayer 62); Walton, Davison, Elliott (Henderson 62).
SUBS NOT USED: Taylor, Moorcroft.
GOALS: Walton (18, 58), Phillips (34), Davison (73)
WILLINGTON: Hannant; Storey (Brazuskas 50), Shields, Milner, Taylor; Ayre, Graham, Smith, Bromley, Plews (Swift 77); Winter (Preston 42).
SUBS NOT USED: Lee.
GOALS: Smith (43)
ATT: 120
This report is proudly sponsored by Jimmy Anderson on behalf of Aggregate Industries, a company part of LafargeHolcim.