FA Vase Second Qualifying Round
Billingham Synthonia 0-1 Morpeth Town
Michael Chilton 86
By Stuart Dick at The Motif8 Stadium
An 86th minute winner by Morpeth Town striker Michael Chilton was enough to secure a FA Vase First Round berth against a very organised Billingham Synthonia side on Saturday afternoon.
Chilton notched the crucial goal after Michael Hall had headed a James Novak corner onto the crossbar, Morpeth’s talismanic striker on hand to secure the winner.
There was one change from the side that lost 2-0 to North Shield last weekend, Shaun Henderson getting injured in the warm-up, replaced by Stephen Forster.
Synthonia set up their stall early with two banks of four, allowing Morpeth as much possession as they wanted. This meant a lot of time on the ball for the likes of Ben Sayer, Jordan Fry and skipper Keith Graydon.
It was, however, the home side who created the first opportunity. A sloppy pass from Town was played into the path of Joe Taylor, his long range effort sailing wide of Karl Dryden’s goal.
Synthonia were playing deep, but giving the Highwaymen no time on the ball, making it difficult to create chances. An effort from Sayer from outside the area was comfortably saved by Jack McClaren.
McClaren came to the rescue again just a few minutes later. The Billingham defence parted and Sayer rushed towards the penalty area, his low cross found Sean Taylor 10 yards out, his first time effort palmed away by the Synthonia stopper.
With 10 men behind the ball, Synthonia continued to frustrate to visitors up until half-time, Sean Taylor with a long range effort going closest, Sayer also trying his luck from long range but failing to cause McClaren problems.
As the clock continued to tick towards half time, Morpeth were awarded a free-kick of the right edge of the penalty area. James Novak stepped up but curled his effort over the bar.
With one last chance before the break, Morpeth were inches from taking the lead. A long diagonal ball from Graydon found Taylor on the right. He beat his man to the byline, firing a ball across the six yard box, Chilton unable to get a touch as he slid in.
At the beginning of the second half Town went close again. Sayer’s left wing corner was almost fumbled into his own net by McClaren, cleared of the line by a Synners defender.
The Highwaymen had the ball in the net just after hour mark. Graydon lofting a ball over the Synners backline onto the head of Sayer who knocked the ball down to Jordan Fry to convert, the offside flag up against Sayer.
Ten minutes later it was the offside flag again that denied the visitors, Forster’s cross finding Lee McAndrew at the back post, his first touch finding Chilton who slid home, Chilton flagged by the assistant.
As the clock hit 70 minutes, Billingham began to show some attacking intent as they looked to steal a victory. Chris Lawther went close, outmuscling David Hiftle before running towards goal, his effort narrowly wide of Dryden’s right upright.
Synthonia continued to press and almost took the lead on 73 minutes, Lawther again breaking into the penalty area, Dryden smothering at his feet. The save rebounded to the left, the ball then crossed in for Joe Hillerby, who volleyed over from six yards out.
Another flowing counter-attack saw the Synners take aim from outside of the area, again the effort blazed over from 22 yards out.
Morpeth thought they’d clinched it on 82 minutes, Dryden’s long kick over the Billingham defence picked up by Taylor. He ran into the penalty area before passing to Chilton, who missed the target from 10 yards.
Controversy surrounded a corner given in the 85th minute, the Synners defenders believing the ball went out for a throw in rather than a corner. Novak whipped the set piece into the six yard box, Hall looping a header onto the bar, the rebound falling kindly for Chilton who hooked the ball into the net to secure a First Round trip to West Didsbury & Chorlton on Saturday 31st October.
