After passing a stern test in the form of Newton Aycliffe on Saturday, Morpeth make the short trip to Newcastle Benfield on Thursday (7.30pm).

Starting a spell of five games in 15 days, the Highwaymen will look to get some momentum going at Sam Smith’s Park.

SNAPSHOT PREVIEW

FORM: Newcastle Benfield last won in the league at home towards the end of August, so they will be looking for a long overdue victory. Their last six isn’t much to shout about either with one win and four defeats during a lean spell which leaves them as the 18th most in-form team in a league of 22.

Morpeth will hope to take advantage of that but they need to improve on some uncertain away form. Fortress Craik Park is still holding firm – with four wins in a row most recently – but on their travels, they are having a wobble with no league win since August 26th (although they were well on the way to beating Sunderland RCA before the match was abandoned).

Town have the fifth meanest back-line in Division One, conceding only 13 goals to date. They will be seeking a clean-sheet for the first time since a 4-0 win over Jarrow at the end of August.

LAST GAME: Benfield has had a busy time of late with cup runs. Their most recent outing was in the FA Cup Third Qualifying Round where they were unlucky to lose 1-0 to Kiddiminster. Joe Ironside scored the crucial goal for the visitors in the 67th minute in a game which was overshadowed by the serious injury to former Highwayman Matty Grieve who broke a shinbone in the 39th minute.

As for Morpeth, they battled their way to a solid, if unspectacular, 2-1 win at the expense of a spirited Newton Aycliffe. Mark Davison opened the scoring in the eighth minute, but as Aycliffe improved so did their chances of victory with a beautifully taken Kieran Duffy-Weekes goal on 72 minutes. There was still time for Jordan Fry to stoop low and head in a winning goal off the far post as Morpeth finished with nine men following the straight red cards for Wayne Phillips and Chris Reid in stoppage time.

ONE TO WATCH: As a nod to former Morpeth man Matty Grieve at what is sure to be a difficult time, he is our one to watch. All at the club wish you a speedy recovery so you’re back out on a football pitch as soon as possible.

WHERE TO WATCH: Sam Smith’s Park, Chesterwood (off Benfield Road), Newcastle.

SAT NAV: NE6 4NU