Media team sponsored by Northumbria Print
There were goals aplenty as Morpeth ended on the wrong side of a 4-2 scoreline at Belle View in their second pre-season outing.
Consett’s number 10 got the scoring underway in the 22nd minute, before Andrew Johnson’s coolly taken equaliser just after the half-hour mark. The home side came out firing in the second half, with their number 18 finding the net on 52 minutes, before the number 12 added a third five minutes later.
Liam Henderson reduced the deficit in the 72nd minute through skipper Liam Henderson, but Consett’s number 16 scored swiftly to ensure the game ended 4-2.
In a game played at a decent tempo, the hosts enjoyed the brighter first half without creating too much to trouble the trialist stopper who started the game for Morpeth.
Their number two enjoyed rampaging down the right side, causing the visiting Highwaymen problems. But, as Henderson got more into the game, so did Town.
It would be the hosts who would take the lead in the 22nd minute through their number 10, who played a neat one-two on the edge of the box before slotting past the trialist keeper at his near post.
Both sides continued to move the ball confidently enough, but it was Morpeth who would find the back of the net on 32 minutes and restore parity.
The ball fell invitingly to Johnson and he, with players on the move in front of him, had the presence of mind to pass the ball into the far corner with a lovely curling low effort.
The home side made a raft of changes at the interval but it certainly didn’t prevent them hitting their stride once again as they re-took the lead on 52 minutes through their number 18, who slotted in at the back post following a low cross from the left.
They threatened a third soon after but the same player couldn’t find a way past our second half trialist keeper, who spread himself well to deny the on-rushing midfielder.
The home side wouldn’t be denied on 57 minutes as the number 12 cut in off the left flank before arching an effort into the far corner, with the keeper only able to get a hand on it.
The visitors, staring at a two-goal deficit, should have reduced the arrears in the 58th minute, but Johnson blazed well over from the edge of the area.
They would register a second on the night through captain Henderson, the striker swivelling and shooting on the volley after Carl Finnigan’s ball in from the right. It was a sweet strike from the forward with 18 minutes left but one immediately countered by Consett and their number 16, who made it 4-2.
There always seems to be goals whenever we visit Consett and tonight proved no exception.
MORPETH TOWN: GK Trialist; Forster, Reid, Noble, Hutchinson, Turner, Walton, Hodgson, L.Henderson (c), Oliver, Johnson.
SUBS: Taylor, Trialist A, Trialist B, Trialist C, Foalle, Finnigan.
