South Shields 3-3 Morpeth Town
Morpeth Town win 10-9 on penalties
(Foley 78, Arca 108, Byrne 118; Halambiec 33, 110, Chilton 115)
By Stuart Dick at Belle Vue Park, Consett
Ninth time was the charm for Morpeth Town as they advanced into the FA Vase Fourth Round with a 10-9 penalty win over South Shields at Consett’s Belle Vue Park.
Karl Dryden was the hero on the day, not only saving the final penalty from Shields captain Leepaul Scroggins, but making numerous glorious saves to keep the Highwaymen in the contest.
Recent signing Mateusz Halambiec opened the scoring in the first half, but it was the Sanddancers who dominated the second half, equalising on 78 minutes through David Foley.
Shields then piled the pressure on during extra time, Julio Arca putting the Mariners in front early in the second period. That ignited the Highwaymen, with Halambiec notching his second, before Michael Chilton added a third, his 20th goal of the season.
There was still drama to unfold, as Wayne Byrne volleyed home win the 118th minute.
To penalties they went, Dryden saving the 24th of the shootout to send the Peth fans home happy.
Town gave a debut to Polish midfielder Halambiec, as well as giving a first start of the season to Dale Pearson up front.
Morpeth started the game on the front foot, Stephen Forster advancing down the right wing crossing for Sean Taylor to head wide. Shields were only able to muster a couple of long range efforts in the opening salvos, both wide of Dryden’s goalmouth.
Dryden was soon in the action though saving a 20 yard Byrne effort before denying Foley from a header.
A corner on 33 minutes provided the opener, Shields unable to clear their lines with the ball eventually falling at the feet of Halambiec who guided the ball home via a deflection.
The Mariners responded well, Byrne with a golden chance on the brink of half-time, but he fired over from close range.
The second half was all Shield from the kick-off, Scroggins and Briggs firing goalwards, the former hitting his effort wide, the latter denied by Dryden.
The visitors thought they’d equalised on the hour mark. After appeals for handball outside of the area by Dryden, the ‘keepers throw-out was intercepted by Wayne Phillips who lobbed the ‘keeper, his effort landing narrowly wide of the left hand upright.
On 74 minutes Foley tested Dryden again, the ‘keeper doing just enough to deny him. But Foley would not be denied for long. A right wing long throw fell to him eight yards out and he buried the ball into the bottom left hand corner.
The Marniners had their tales up at this points, and only Dryden’s heroics took the game to extra time, and incredible one handed save denying Byrne from point blank range. He repeated the feat on 88 minutes, this time substitute Lewis Teasdale scuppered.
In the fourth minute of injury time, Teasdale again took aim, again Dryden in imperious form.
Extra time saw Dryden complete hat-trick of saves from Teasdale, this time with his legs as the Sanddancers continued to force the issue. He was on hand again on 99 minutes to deny Foley a second.
It took a lot of luck for Shields to take the lead early in the second period of extra time. Dryden had denied a Shields attacker at his feet, but the rebound fell to Arca 18 yards out, his effort parried by Dryden onto a defender and into the back of the net.
This ignited Town, and they were level within three minutes, Halambiec again in the right place after a set piece, powering home from 10 yards out.
In the 115th minute, the Highwaymen regained the lead, James Novak’s left wing long ball allowed Taylor to beat his man and advance int the penalty area, he found Chilton on the edge of the area who slotted home.
Three minutes later, Byrne picked up the flick on from another long throw 15 yards out, masterfully volleying home sending the Shields supporters in to raptures.
That meant the lottery of penalties, and Town took first, Luke Carr converting. With the score at 1-1 Ben Sayer saw his penalty saved by Scott Pocklington. Wayne Byrne hit the bar to leave the score 2-2 after three penalties.
At 3-3 James Novak fired over the bar, meaning Ben Riding was the man to win it for Shields, his effort set on the same trajectory as Novak’s, sailing well over the bar.
13 consecutive penalties were scored, Luke Carr’s second making it 10-9. This mean Scroggins had to step up for a second time, his low effort palmed away by Man of the Match Dryden who put Morpeth into the next round.
