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The year 2020 will go down in history for all the wrong reasons as football was put on hold more than once.

The end of one season was null and void, with the following campaign currently mired in uncertainty.

As we near the end of the calendar year, we take a look back at truly unprecedented 12 months, with Sam Donovan guiding you through it.

January

January began with Morpeth first footing at Giant Axe as they faced Lancaster City. It was a game that needed to be quickly forgotten as the Highwaymen went down 4-1 to 10-man Lancaster. Paul Dawson opened the scoring for the home side, after Sam Bailey had been sent off. Dawson scored his second at the start of the second half before Sean Taylor halved the arrears. Charlie Bailey immediately replied for City. There was still time for Dawson to complete his hat-trick.

Morpeth had the distraction of the Integro League Cup a couple of days later and they battered Marske United at Craik Park. Liam Henderson scored inside the first minute before Taylor and Jack Foalle had us 3-0 ahead inside the opening half hour. Craig Gott grabbed one back for the away side before Taylor and Foalle grabbed their second goals. Gott then rounded off the scoring as we secured a 5-2 win.

The Highwaymen continued their hectic start to the year with a trip to the highest ground in English football as they visited the Silverlands Stadium in Buxton. Diego De Girolamo scored a brace in the opening 20 minutes but he was outdone by Foalle, who continued his blistering start to the year as he scored a hat-trick.

Morpeth continued their remarkable start to 2020 as they were part of another five-goal league game. Ashton United were the visitors to Northumberland and they took all the points as Morpeth suffered a first home league loss in over a year. Jeff Henderson nodded Town ahead on four minutes but Sam Sheridan drew his side level on 30 minutes. Joe Walton had a penalty saved just before the break. Ben Hardcastle put the visitors in front and the lead was extended to a three-goal cushion before the final whistle finished off a disappointing afternoon.

The games continued thick and fast as Morpeth began the defence of the Northumberland Senior Cup by hosting Whitley Bay. Goals from Liam Henderson and Taylor helped Morpeth advance.

Turning their focus back to the NPL Premier Division, Morpeth were undone at Basford United as the hosts scored with their only effort on target; to be fair it was a cracking one too! James Reid curled home a tremendous free kick, with Town hammering on the door for an equaliser for the rest of the game. Chris Reid was twice denied by the woodwork as Morpeth were left to rue missed chances.

The final game of the month coincided with then-manager Nick Gray’s 450th game in charge of the Highwaymen. They advanced to the third round of the League Cup with a dominant display over a young Pickering side. Foalle and Liam Henderson had Morpeth ahead before Flynn McNaughton brought Pickering back into it; but Joe Walton netted a penalty to seal safe passage.

January Stats

Played: 7

Won: 4

Drew: 0

Lost: 3

Scored: 15

Conceded: 14

February

The month got off to a fantastic start with a comfortable 3-1 victory over Radcliffe at Craik Park. Carl Finnigan opened the scoring with a sublime lob on seven minutes before Liam Henderson doubled the lead with a calm finish early in the second half. Matt Hughes halved the arrears when he powerfully headed home, but the win was sealed with Foalle curling home in stoppage-time.

The Highwaymen were in action only three days later when they played host to local rivals South Shields. Jason Gilchrist opened the scoring in front of a bumper crowd on 55 minutes, but Finnigan levelled against his former side to make sure the derby ended all-square.

The unbeaten start to the month continued with an impressive win at Atherton Collieries. Walton grabbed a brace to add to strikes from Liam Noble, Finnigan and Foalle. Noble and Finnigan had Morpeth two goals to the good with headers from inside the six-yard box prior to John Welsh being shown a straight red following a melee with Finnigan. Walton produced an acrobatic effort to make it three before Jordan Cover gave the hosts a glimmer of hope. The numerical advantage paid off for Morpeth though as Walton and Foalle slotted home to make it five. It should have been more in truth, with the Highwaymen hitting the woodwork on three occasions.

A week after their league meeting with the Mariners, Morpeth and South Shields locked horns again in the League Cup. After a tough battle in the league, the cup game was far more one-sided. Town dismantled Shields by scoring five for the second successive game. Walton opened the scoring when he rifled into the top corner on six minutes. Lee Mason and Sefton Gonzales turned the tie around, but Stephen Turnbull levelled early in the second half. Walton added his second before Sam Hodgson scored his first for the club and Ben Ramsay added gloss to the score-line in added time.

Morpeth moved into the Techflow Group Northumberland Senior Cup final as they defeated North Shields on the road. Jeff Henderson headed home on 12 minutes before the Robins equalised on the stroke of half-time with Callum Smith calmly rolling the ball past Dan Lowson. The lead was restored at the start of the second half with Walton striking across the keeper. Noble sealed the win with a superb free kick that was curled into the bottom corner.

Town continued their fine February form as they won 2-0 at basement boys Stafford Rangers. Their task was made easier as Rangers’ Josh Burns was dismissed, following an altercation with Finnigan. Liam Henderson scored the opener with a diving header, after his initial shot had been saved, with Chris Reid doubled the lead when he glanced home a header from a Ben Sayer free kick.

February Stats

Played: 6

Won: 5

Drew: 1

Lost: 0

Scored: 19

Conceded: 6

March

March began with a long midweek trip to Matlock Town in Derbyshire. It was a case of what might have been for the Highwaymen as they shared the spoils. Marcus Marshall opened the scoring for the Warriors but they were reduced to 10 men when Spencer Harris was sent off for trying to headbutt (yes, you’ve guessed it) Finnigan. Stephen Turnbull also saw red for a lunge in the second half but Town took a point after Ryan Hutchinson converted from a corner.

No one would know at the time but Morpeth’s last match was at home to Hyde United on Thursday 10th March. Walton and Liam Henderson put Morpeth in control despite the chances created by the visitors. Despite Tom Pratt pulling a goal back in the second half, after Reid was dismissed on 40 minutes, Morpeth were able to hold on.

March Stats

Played: 2

Won: 1

Drew: 1

Lost: 0

Scored: 3

Conceded: 2

By March 21st, the nation, and football in general, had gone into lockdown. With the league unable to finish, the FA took the decision to declare the campaign null and void, ending the season that never was.