After finally being given a week’s rest in between games, Morpeth Town travel to Washington on Saturday.

Following a 6-0 drubbing of Penrith, The Highwaymen journey south to face the Mechanics and a certain former Premier League star.

 

SNAPSHOT PREVIEW

FORM: Washington have the joint second worst home wins record in the division with a solitary success at the Nissan Sports and Leisure Complex from eight games. They’ve lost 50% of those matches and only one team have scored less than their seven on home soil.

Morpeth, on the road, are impressive to say the least. With five wins from seven, they have scored 21 goals away from Craik Park, second only to North Shields who have registered 23 in 10 away outings. The Highwaymen have a goal difference of plus 32, thanks in no small part to a 6-0 thumping of Penrith last Saturday. That is a massive 13 goals better than the rest, highlighting their impressive start to the campaign to date.

LAST GAME: Washington gave Marske a close run in their last league outing, losing 2-1 to the title hopefuls. Hosting Marske took the lead on 39 minutes when Craig Gott’s drilled low effort was turned in by the foot of Adam Wheatley. But within 12 minutes of the second half starting, Washington were level courtesy of Matty Waters after he slotted home the rebound following Jake Pickard’s effort. That parity lasted only eight minutes as substitute James Fairley struck a shot in off the far post to seal a narrow win for Marske.

What can you say about Morpeth’s previous outing? Six goals, a clean-sheet and a 14-minute hat-trick from Sean Taylor against a stunned Penrith. After netting the opener on 11 minutes, Taylor scored a sublime second – chipping the keeper from the edge of the area – in the 23rd minute prior to a headed third two minutes later. Liam Henderson also got on the score-sheet six minutes before the interval as the visiting Highwaymen lead 4-0 at half-time. Further goals from Luke Carr (from the penalty spot) on 72 minutes and Ben Sayer on 88 minutes ensured a comfortable 6-0 win in Cumbria.

ONE TO WATCH: The man making the most headlines in Washington at the moment is not a free-scoring striker. It’s not a creative midfield maestro. It’s none other than right-back Pascal Chimbonda, he of Spurs, Sunderland and France fame. After recently signing for the Mechanics, the former French international has added undoubted quality and class to the full-back positions.

WHERE TO WATCH: Nissan Sports and Leisure Complex, Washington

SAT NAV: SR5 3NS