Morpeth Town secured a 2-1 win at home to Bamber Bridge as they won their final game before the nationwide lockdown.
Ben Sayer put the Highwaymen in front from the spot in the 18th minute, before Chris Reid doubled the hosts’ advantage in the 36th minute. George Thomason reduced the deficit with nine minutes to go but the home side saw the game out for three precious points in the Pitching In NPL Premier Division.
Bamber Bridge started brightly and could have taken the lead through Joseph Rodwell-Grant. The striker, who was hugely impressive in the first half, curled a 15th minute effort narrowly wide as he started with an intent which would cause problems throughout the opening 45 minutes.
But for all the visitors’ intent and menace going forward, it would be the Highwaymen who would net the opener, from the penalty spot, in the 18th minute.
Andrew Johnson instigated the move forward, darting in off the left flank before firing across goal and off the far post. The ball fell to Stephen Forster in the area, bounced off him and into the path of Liam Henderson, who was felled by two Bamber Bridge defenders.
Sayer, who had scored from the spot in our win over Whitby Town on Saturday, stepped up and netted once more.
Bridge responded with an attacking intent and Rodwell-Grant forced a decent save from Dan Lowson with a free-kick before coming even closer on 31 minutes.
The Preston North End loanee shot on the turn but was denied superbly low down by Lowson. The ball fell invitingly for Matthew Dudley but the striker inexplicably blazed over the top with the goal at his mercy.
Two minutes later and Morpeth were once again grateful for wasteful finishing as Dudley arrowed a ball to the feet of Rodwell-Grant. But the striker couldn’t get it out of his feet and fired wide of the exposed Lowson’s goal.
While Bamber Bridge were kicking themselves for the misses, Morpeth displayed a ruthless, clinical streak to score again in the 36th minute through Reid.
The defender raced in at the back post to volley Liam Noble’s free-kick in from the right into the far corner.
The second half was less explosive than the first, with Isaac Sinclair threatening to drag his side back into it with a low drive at the near post which clipped the woodwork in the 63rd minute.
Liam Henderson dragged an effort wide, before Andrew Johnson was denied by the legs of Matthew Hudson in the Bamber Bridge goal.
Jack Foalle, off the bench with 25 minutes to go, injected pace and a chaotic presence down the right hand side, cutting in off that flank before blasting over the top, prior to Reid smashing a shot across goal from the left just past the far post.
With nine minutes to go, Bamber Bridge got the goal their performance deserved, as a left-wing corner was volleyed home from inside the six-yard box by Thomason.
There was still time for Morpeth to miss a penalty – Sayer firing well over the bar as Town missed their eighth penalty of the season – but it wouldn’t impact the final result as the Highwaymen secured three points.
Without knowing when we will back next, we wish our fans the best of health. Stay safe, and we hope to see you soon.
MORPETH TOWN: Lowson; Williams (Foalle 65), Reid, Phillips, Hodgson, Turner, Forster, Sayer, Henderson (Finnigan 87), Noble, Johnson.
SUBS NOT USED: Mohammed, Leonard, Bostyan.
GOALS: Ben Sayer (18 PEN), Chris Reid (36)
BAMBER BRIDGE: Hudson; Thomson, Higham, Lawlor (Burton 65), Wisdom (Marlow 72), Wilson, O’Reilly, Thomason, Rodwell-Grant, Dudley (Yeates 60), Sinclair.
SUBS NOT USED: Churchman, King-Harmes.
GOAL: George Thomason (81)
ATT: 300
