Match Report Sponsored by Northumbria Print
Morpeth returned home emptyhanded from the North Yorkshire coast as they lost 2-1 at Whitby Town writes Sam Donovan.
A brace from Jacob Hazel did the damage for the Seasiders as Morpeth failed from the penalty for the 7th time this season. Adam Gell received his marching orders for Whitby after tangling with Carl Finnigan. Ryan Hutchinson made the final few minutes frantic as he netted late on. The drama wasn’t finished as Whitby were given a penalty which was saved by Lowson before Jack Foalle collected a red card.
Morpeth made the early running and Liam Noble was unlucky to see his 25 yard strike deflect wide of the post. Moments later, Andrew Johnson got in behind the Whitby defence but his effort was pushed away by Shane Bland. In the ensuing scramble, Whitby managed to clear the ball behind.
Morpeth were awarded a penalty on 12 minutes when Liam Henderson was elbowed by James Rowe. However, as per this campaign, the penalty was saved with Carl Finnigan seeing his strike saved by Bland.
If the missed penalty was disappointing, then what happened next was even worse. Whitby countered at pace from the save and Jacob Hazel was afforded plenty of space to angle a low effort beyond Dan Lowson.
Morpeth looked to respond and on 27 minutes, Noble hit a fierce effort from outside the area that stung the palms of Bland.
The hosts doubled their lead on 34 minutes and again it came from a Morpeth attack. Losing possession high up the pitch, the Seasiders countered at pace with Cooke lifting the ball to Bradley Fewster who squared it for Hazel who scored at the second attempt.
The second half got underway with Morpeth again looking to try and assert their dominance in the attacking third but failed to work Bland in the Whitby goal.
A free flowing move on 54 minutes so Andrew Johnson move the ball infield to Noble but his effort went narrowly wide of the post.
On the hour mark, Henderson saw an effort deflect over the bar before seconds later he was sent a shot crashing over the bar.
Whitby reminded the Highwaymen of their attacking threat as Hazel slid the ball across the box for Fewster. With the home fans starting to celebrate, their cries were strangled as Lowson made a phenomenal save.
With 20 minutes remaining, Morpeth were handed the initiative to try and get something out of the game when Adam Gell was dismissed for an off the ball tussle with Finnigan. The assistant watched the incident unfurl as Finnigan ended up on the deck.
Ryan Hutchinson netted his first goal of the season on 83 minutes as he smashed home a loose ball inside the penalty area.
The drama continued into the final stages of the game as Whitby were awarded a penalty for Bradley Mills falling into Jeff Henderson. Dan Lowson guessed right and denied Hazel the chance of recording his hat trick.
Deep into added time, Foalle collected his second yellow as he brought down Hazel as the last man and was given a red card.
Morpeth make the trip to the North West on Tuesday evening when they face Stalybridge Celtic at Bower Fold.
STARTING XI: Lowson, Forster, Reid, Oliver, J. Henderson (c), Turner (Hutchinson, 65’), Walton (Foalle, 46’), Noble (Sayer, 64’), L. Henderson, Finnigan, Johnson.
SUBS NOT USED: Hodgson, Williams.
GOALS: Hutchinson 83’
