By Stuart Dick (@StuOnSport)
Morpeth Town have reached the Emirates FA Cup Second Qualifying Round for the first time in 17 years after a 4-2 win over Colwyn Bay at Craik Park.
Top scorer Paul Robinson added a brace to his season total, with Michael Chilton giving the Highwaymen a first half lead. Defender Chris Reid was also on target for ‘Peth as 220 witnessed Morpeth beat Evo-Stik Divsion One opposition.
Town now wait to see who they will face in the next round, with the draw taking place on Monday.
Nick Gray and Dave Malone made three changes from the side who drew 1-1 at Ashington on Monday, Chris Swailes, Keith Graydon and Jordan Fry recalled to the starting lineup.
The visitors started the game strongly, Scott Bakkor trying his luck in the opening five minutes, his weak effort bobbling wide.
Bakkor then turned provider as his cross was met by Tom Schofield, the midfielder heading straight into the grasp of Karl Dryden.
On 13 minutes the visitor’s striker Chris Gaghan nearly broke the deadlock, but his deflected effort went wide of Dryden’s goal.
As the game went on, Morpeth began to get a foothold in the contest. Robinson’s delicious through ball hit Luke Carr in stride, the Morpeth forward then fired at goal, only a fingertip save from Simon Williams keeping the effort out.
Long range efforts from Carr, Robinson and Ben Sayer followed in the next fifteen minutes, but all were off target as the Highwaymen looked for the opener.
Keith Graydon also went close, his low 25-yard effort was saved unconvincingly by the feet of Williams in the Bay goal.
At the other end Will Jones went close with a looping header, but Dryden watched as the ball floated over his bar.
With 37 minutes on the clock, Morpeth struck. Sayer’s corner from the left was whipped in, finding the head of Michael Chilton at the near post who glanced the ball home.
The visitors put pressure on the Morpeth goal in the remaining minutes of the half, the best chance falling to Schofield as he beat the Town backline, Dryden coming to the rescue with a last ditch dive at the midfielder’s feet.
The second half brought an early goal for the hosts from another set piece after Carr was scythed down on the right wing.
He dusted himself off to take the kick, finding the head of Robinson at the near post who scored via the post to double the Highwaymen’s lead.
Morpeth, now full of confidence, took the game to the Evo-Stik Division One side, and nearly added a third on 56 minutes.
Carr broke in behind the visitors back four, hitting a powerful effort straight at Williams who did well to tip the ball over.
The Welsh side got back into the contest on the hour mark. Mark Keddie’s long range effort zipped off the surface hitting the chest of Dryden, substitute Adam Whitlock, who’d been on the pitch a mere 90 seconds, tapping home the rebound from six yards out.
Bay looked to build on the momentum, controlling possession and forcing Morpeth back, but the pairing of Chris Reid and Chris Swailes were not troubled despite the pressure.
Within seven minutes of conceding, Morpeth restored their two goal through a third set piece goal. This time Graydon the provider with a pinpoint perfect cross allowing Reid to hit home from inside the six-yard box.
Four minutes later it was 4-1, Graydon latching on to a poor kick by Williams, lofting the ball towards Sayer who guided a header into the path of Robinson who tapped into an empty net.
A fifth was nearly added in the following minutes, Michael Chilton netting from inside the area, the offside flag denying the striker a second on the day.
Credit to the visitors, they continued to push forward, Bakkor’s effort from the angle of the area smashing against the crossbar before netting a consolation through another substitute, Gary Burnett.
A fantastic display by the Northern League side who await Monday’s draw with excitement.
Morpeth: Dryden, Forster, Mullen, Sayer (Fondato, 85 min), Swailes, Reid, Fry, Garydon ©, Carr, Chilton (Anderson, 79 min, Robinson (Taylor, 73 min)
Subs Not Used: Hall, Grieve, Provett, Novak
Colwyn Bay: Williams, Denson, Corrigan, Grant, Hardwick ©, Keddie, Schofield, Wilson (Whitlock, 59 min), Jones, Bakkor, Gaghan (Burnett, 59 min).
Subs Not Used: Pearson, Bowers, Bibby, Booth, Matthews
Goals: 1-0 Michael Chilton, 37 min. 2-0 Paul Robinson, 48 min. 2-1 Adam Whitlock, 61. 3-1 Chris Reid, 68 min. 4-1 Paul Robinson, 72 min. 4-2 Gary Burnett, 90 min.
Referee: Johnathan Urwin
Assistants: Kevin KcKitterick & Gary Hargrave
Attendance: 220
Photo: Chris Chambers/ CJC Photo (Official Club Photographer of Morpeth Town)
