By Andrew McDonnell (@AndrewSJourno)

Morpeth Town fell at the first hurdle in the Emirates FA Cup this season, after they suffered a 2-0 defeat to Shildon in the Extra Preliminary Round.

Matty Robson converted from the penalty spot on nine minutes, after Michael Turner brought down Jamie Harwood in the area.

Joe Walton hit the post midway through the first-half, shortly before Dan Moore did exactly the same at the other end.

Shildon doubled their advantage just after the hour mark when Karl Dryden’s clearance crashed into Lewis Dodds and landed in the net.

Morpeth will have to put this result to the back of their minds rather quickly as their first league game is on Wednesday evening against newly-promoted Stockton Town.

Nick Gray and Dave Malone’s side made it to the Third Qualifying Round of the competition last season, but found themselves behind in the early exchanges.

Harwood intercepted Turner, before the full-back brought him down in the area and Robson stepped up and made no mistake from the spot.

The visitors had their first opening three minutes later, Sean Taylor’s cross was headed by Mark Davison and ‘keeper Nick Liversedge got down well to push the ball round the post.

Karl Dryden was called into action on 15 minutes as Harwood tried his luck from range, and the Morpeth shot-stopper had to push the shot over the bar.

Joe Walton was inches away from scoring an equaliser six minutes later, he latched onto Stephen Forster’s through ball, lobbed the ball over the ‘keeper and the ball cannoned off the post.

The Railwaymen hit the post themselves on 26 minutes, Moore picked up the ball and lashed the ball across goal and off the woodwork.

Adam Burnicle should have done better with his chance on the half-hour mark, he was a few yards out and struck Dodds’ cross wide.

The hosts took a slender lead into half-time, and it was the Railwaymen that had the next opening in the game, on 58 minutes.

Robson picked up the ball in the area and from a tight angle, he drew a fantastic save out of Dryden.

Forster’s cross evaded the oncoming Liversedge just after the hour mark, but the outstretching Taylor couldn’t direct the ball goalwards.

Under a minute later, Shildon doubled their lead in the game, a back-pass put Dryden under pressure, and his first-time clearance crashed off Dodds and went into the net.

Walton tested Liversedge before Curtis Coppen headed over Ben Sayer’s cross into the area, but the visitors just couldn’t get a goal back.

Davison had the ball in the back of the net 10 minutes from time, but it was ruled out for offside, while the hosts could have made it 3-0 five minutes later.

Substitute Billy Greulich-Smith capitalised on a mistake at the back and raced through on goal, but squandered the chance under pressure.

The result was confirmed soon after, Morpeth now have to turn their attention to Wednesday nights game against Stockton.

Shildon: Liversedge, Groves, Robson, Dodds, Moore, May, Harwood, Hodgson, Rae (Fenton, 69), Burnicle (Renyard, 90), Peacock (Greulich-Smith, 81)

Subs Not Used: Curl, Grayson, Jackson, Ellison

Morpeth Town: Dryden, Forster, Turner (Fry, 63), Sayer, Coppen, Reid, Taylor, Carson, Davison (Carr, 80), Walton (Chilton, 71), Phillips

Subs Not Used: Pell, Hiftle

Goals: 1-0, 9 min, Robson (Pen); 2-0, 65 min, Dodds

Referee: Matthew East

Assistants: Geoffrey Mann and Thomas Ross