Oh, I do like to be beside the seaside…in December…in the North East of England!
Morpeth Town travel to Whitley Bay on Saturday for game number 23 of a season that is shaping up nicely for The Highwaymen. But with Marske United nine points behind, with three games in hand, every point is vital for Town.
SNAPSHOT PREVIEW
FORM: Whitley Bay have only lost once in eight league outings in Division One when playing at Hillheads Park. The Bay concede rarely in their own back yard with an average of one per game in the Northern League during the current campaign. Only Newcastle Benfield and West Auckland Town have left victorious making the trip to the coast a tricky prospect for Morpeth. More recently, Whitley Bay beat Marske United – our title rivals – 2-0 away from home. That result alone suggests a side, sitting in ninth, who should be higher up the league table. When they catch up with their backlog of fixtures, the likelihood is they will have risen up the standings.
Five more goals were scored by Morpeth on their travels during a thrilling 5-3 success at Consett. Those five strikes saw Town move past 30 goals away from Craik Park in the league, with only West Auckland Town able to match that having played a game more. The Highwaymen have netted 11 goals in their previous three league and cup games (home and away), making them a dangerous opponent for any team in the division.
LAST GAME: Whitley Bay were involved in an FA Vase tussle to remember as they exited the competition at the third round stage following a 4-3 loss at West Auckland Town. Although Alex Kempster registered a hat-trick, it wasn’t enough as Town progress at the expense of the Bay. Games with Washington and Shildon have postponed since then, meaning a 14-day break for our next hosts.
Last time out, Morpeth were faced with freezing conditions and snow falling during the match as they travelled to Consett for a match on a 3G pitch on Tuesday night. They adapted to the conditions quickly, turning an early deficit, following Michael Sweet’s header, into a half-time lead thanks to David Carson’s first for the club and Mark Davison’s close-range strike three minutes after. Town went further ahead with Joe Walton’s 10th goal of the campaign before Sweet scored again to keep the game in the melting pot. Chris Reid restored the two-goal cushion before Michael Mackay threw the result into doubt once more. However, there was still time for Liam Henderson to score his 17th goal of the season as Morpeth ended the game 5-3 victors.
ONE TO WATCH: Alex Kempster is a man in form after he scored a hat-trick in Bay’s FA Vase third round loss at West Auckland Town. That makes six in six games for the Whitley Bay player. Any goal scorer in that type of form is one to watch for the Highwaymen.
KICK OFF TIME: 3pm
WHERE TO WATCH: Hillheads Park, Whitley Bay.
