EBAC Northern League Division One
Morpeth Town 0-2 North Shields
By Stuart Dick at Craik Park
Morpeth Town fell to their first league defeat of the season against North Shields at Craik Park.
A goal in either half for the visitors secured the three points for the FA Vase winners, in a game that the Highwaymen really got going. Curtis Coppen opened the scoring in the 12th minutes before James Luccock’s effort mid-way through the second half secured the win.
Nick Gray made five changes to the side that beat Bishop Auckland in the league cup midweek and looked sharp in the opening few minutes, Sean Taylor close to breaking the deadlock with a left footed shot inside the area, only to see it sail over the bar.
North Shields rattled the woodwork in the 6th minute, midfielder Michael McKeown crashing a 25 yard free-kick off the crossbar.
On 12 minutes the visitors took the lead after a Shields corner was only half cleared, falling to Adam Forster on the edge of the area. His low shot was only parried by Karl Dryden into the path of Curtis Coppen who slotted home with the Town defence looking for an offside flag.
From that point on Shield defended with two banks of four, frustrating Morpeth who had the majority of possession. The centre-half pairing of Coppen and John Parker routinely handling crosses from the Town flanks.
The home side struggled to show the dominance that the home fans have become accustomed to with six wins in a row before today, but that was a credit to the defensive job North Shields did, hassling and pressing throughout the game.
Ben Sayer went close on the half hour mark, after some on touch football down the left wing, space eventually opened up for the midfielder to make a run at goal, his 20 yard effort flying over the crossbar.
The visitors nearly added a second a couple of minutes later, Luccock’s cross to the back post was headed back across goal by the Robins, Michael Hall clearing before Daniel Wilson could nod home, with both players needing treatment for a clash of heads.
Morpeth pushed for an equaliser before the half, and came close on a couple of occasions. Firstly Lee McAndrew had an effort blocked in the six yard box after a Shaun Henderson cross found him at the back post before Taylor broke on to a Keith Graydon pass but skied his one on one effort against Shields stopper Sean McCafferty.
After the break Morpeth continued to boss possession, but rarely troubled the stout Shields defence, but just three minutes into the second half Michael Chilton almost pulled the Highwaymen level, a looping header lobbing McCafferty before clipping the top of the crossbar.
Morpeth persevered with getting the ball down the flanks and putting crosses in, and it almost came to fruition on the hour mark, Sayer’s ball across the six yard box a whisker away from being turned in by Chilton, eventually turned behind by the boys in red.
James Novak’s resulting corner found Jordan Fry at the near post unmarked, but he was unable to hit the target with his headed effort.
Shields netted a fortuitous second goal with 71 minutes played. After a free-kick was awarded in the Shield half, the visitors managed to get away with taking the free-kick 10 yard into Morpeth’s half. Coppen’s diagonal ball was headed away by Michael Hall into the path of Luccock, who’s first touch allowed David Hiftle to steal in.
His clearance, however, rebounded off Luccock’s shin and floated into the back of the Town net, Dryden unable to do anything but watch it fly in.
At 2-0 the visitors were comfortable sitting with 10 men behind the ball, Morpeth unable to unlock the sturdy defence. The best late chance falling to substitute Luke Carr who was unable to keep his shot down after beating three defenders on his run into the penalty area.
A disappointing day for the home side as the Robins take the spoils with a hardworking, determined display. Next up is a trip to high flying Billingham Synthonia in the FA Vase next Saturday afternoon.
