By Andrew McDonnell (@AndrewSJourno)
Our series of features now turns its attention to West Auckland Town, a side that Morpeth Town have a close record with since 1996.
Club: West Auckland Town
Nickname: West
Founded: 1893 (as West Auckland)
Ground: Wanted Stadium, Darlington Road, West Auckland, Co.Durham, DL14 9AQ
Craik Park to Ashington: 50 miles
Last Season: 18th
Twitter: @westaucklandfc
West Auckland have revamped their side this summer and look likely to challenge for the Northern League Division One title this season.
Gary Forrest and Stuart Niven have taken over the helm at the Wanted Stadium and have signed some big names in the off-season.
Most recently, South Shields defender Darren Holden has put pen to paper to sign for West this season.
Former Highwayman Denver Morris is one of the players to make the switch along with; former Blyth Spartans ‘keeper Adam McHugh and prolific striker Nathan Fisher from Spennymoor Town.
Morpeth won their first two meetings against West back in the 1996-97 season, but then had to wait 11 years for their next away victory.
Last season, Nick Gray and Dave Malone’s men completed the league double against West, winning 3-1 at the Wanted Stadium thanks to a brace from Paul Robinson and a goal from Michael Chilton.
The game at Craik Park finished 4-1 to Morpeth, with Liam Henderson bagging a brace this time around, and Joe Walton and Chilton also getting on the scoresheet.
As for the overall record between the two sides, it is very close. Morpeth have 16 victories to West Auckland’s 14, with two draws in the mix, from their 32 meetings in all competitions.
The Highwaymen have five wins away from home against West, who have won nine times from the 15 meetings at the Wanted Stadium, with just the one draw between the sides since 1996.
