By Andrew McDonnell (@AndrewSJourno)
Morpeth Town extended their home winning streak to 16-games after a sublime second-half display saw them hit five past Whitley Bay at Craik Park
After a goalless first half, Sean Taylor opened the scoring before Curtis Coppen, an own goal from Graham Williams and Liam Henderson all scored in a 12-minute period.
Jordan Fry turned Stephen Forster’s cross into the net for a fifth goal, and Henderson headed off the crossbar in additional time.
The Highwaymen blew their opponents away in the second half, and have just under a week to wait until their next match – against Dunston UTS next Tuesday evening.
Nick Gray and Dave Malone’s side come into the game off the back of a 4-0 win over Billingham Synthonia, and they picked up where they left off in the opening exchanges.
Mark Davison guided Taylor’s cross just wide of the post with 23 seconds on the clock, before Alex Kempster failed to convert an excellent chance at the other end.
Taylor was in among the action once more on three minutes, the wide man drove in off the left wing and drilled a shot goalwards, Tom Flynn reacted well to push the ball over the bar.
Davison went close with a header once more on 18 minutes, but the next chance didn’t occur until seven minutes before half-time.
Kyle Patton cut inside and curled straight at Karl Dryden, while the hosts did have a few more chances to break the deadlock before half-time.
Davison headed wide before having an effort saved well by Flynn, but the hosts felt that they should have had a penalty with three minutes remaining in the half.
Luke Carr had the ball at his feet a few yards from goal, and was bundled over, but the referee waved away all appeals.
The two sides went into the break goalless, but the game certainly sprung back to life within seconds of the restart.
Taylor curled with just 33 seconds played in the second half, while Carr saw his effort go wide of the post.
Whitley should have taken the lead on 48 minutes, an excellent ball across the box from Tom Potter was stuck over the bar by Scott Jasper from a few yards out.
Taylor and Davison both had openings before Morpeth took a deserved lead just after the hour mark.
Carr threaded the ball through to Taylor, who burst straight through the heart of Whitley’s defence before sliding the ball into the net to break the deadlock.
Taylor turned provider two minutes later as his corner was headed powerfully into the net by Coppen – his first goal for Morpeth since signing in the summer.
The hosts found a third goal just two minutes after that header as Taylor’s low cross was turned into his own net by Williams.
Morpeth certainly warranted their lead, and put the game to bed with 15 minutes remaining.
Joe Walton, who has scored five goals so far this season, burst through on goal, squared the ball across to Henderson, who tapped home from inside the area.
Jasper had a chance for a consolation with seven minutes to go, but Dryden had the shot covered, and there was enough time remaining for the home side to add another goal.
Forster’s cross was helped on by Henderson, before Fry got the final touch to turn the ball into the net, past Flynn.
Henderson come close to bagging his second of the game in additional time, but his looping header rattled off the crossbar before Michael Chilton’s effort was saved by Whitley’s ‘keeper.
The Highwaymen have now won all three of their opening league games, and have scored nine goals in their first two home games this season.
Morpeth Town: Dryden, Forster, Turner, Phillips, Coppen, Carson, Taylor, Walton (Graydon, 75), Davison (Henderson, 63), Carr (Chilton, 79), Fry
Subs Not Used: Pell, Hodgson
Whitley Bay: Flynn, Nearney, Hall, Haley, Williams, Charmey, Potter, Glen-Ravenhill, Jasper, Kempster, K.Patton (Cornish, 73)
Subs Not Used: Harley, Reay, Field, Moore
Goals: 1-0, 63 min, Taylor; 2-0, 65 min, Coppen; 3-0, 67 min, Williams (OG); 4-0, 75 min, Henderson; 5-0, 84 min, Fry
Referee: Lindsey Robinson
Assistants: Givi Todua and Daniel Mahmoodshahi
Attendance: 281
Photo: Paul Ternent
