EBAC Northern League Division One
Morpeth Town 2-2 Seaham Red Star
Own Goal 45, Taylor 59; Donnelly 53, Bird 83
By Stuart Dick
Seaham Red Star played spoiler at Craik Park on Saturday afternoon as the visitors earned a deserved point from league leaders Morpeth Town.
An own goal on the stroke of half time had given the Highwaymen the lead, but Star fought back early in the second half through a Daryll Donnelly header.
Sean Taylor then restored the lead with a superlative curling effort before Robbie Bird rescued a point for Seaham with just seven minutes remaining.
It had been an interesting week for Town, who moved to the top of the table after title favourites Shildon were forced to replay their 2-1 victory over Ashington for fielding an illegible player, meaning Morpeth sat top of the table by a point before the game.
Nick Gray made three changes from the side who defeated Marske a week ago, Jordan Nellis replacing the injured Steven Anderson, Niall Harrison in for the absent Karl Dryden and Chris Swailes taking the place of David Hiftle.
Morpeth started brightly, a smart move in the opening minute down the right allowed Luke Carr to cut inside onto his favoured left and strike an effort over the crossbar.
Jordan Nellis nearly unlocked the Seaham defence with a floated cross a minute later, Phil Gray heading the ball behind as Michael Chilton looked certain to nod home.
It was Carr again going close a few moments later, Keith Graydon’s whipped cross eventually falling to the midfielder, his effort blocked on its way through to Shaun Newbrook.
The Star suddenly came into the game after 15 minutes, winning a free-kick 25 yards out. Lee Kerr stepped up and hit a strong effort at Harrison, who was fouled as he tried to gather at the second attempt.
Ben Sayer went close from 20 yards so after, his deflected effort narrowly going over the bar. Seaham’s Paul Gardiner saw himself in a similar position to Sayer three minutes later, his powerful strike flying wide.
In the 23rd minute James Novak went close with a curling right wing free-kick, forcing Newbrook to palm a low right corner bound effort wide, Chilton unable to convert the rebound from an acute angle.
At the other end Dan Robinson forced a sharp save from Harrison after marauding into the penalty area before hitting a strike towards the roof of the net, tipped over by the Morpeth stopper. The resulting corner headed wide by Dan Kirkup.
Graydon thought he’d given Morpeth the lead on the half hour mark, Nellis dummying a Sayer pull back from the left, Graydon hitting a rasping effort towards the bottom right hand corner, Newbrook at full stretch to parry.
Taylor picked up the loose ball, chipping the ball back into Chilton who headed the ball off the crossbar.
As the clock ticked towards halftime, the visitors went close to taking the lead. Robinson found himself in the penalty area, his was shot saved by Harrison. The ball then fell to McBryde who fired goal wards, Morpeth’s desperate defending clearing the ball off the line.
Morpeth then countered, Ben Sayer with a penetrating run into the penalty area, his effort on goal taking a massive deflection off Kieran Galbraith, nestling into the bottom right hand corner past the despairing dive of Newbrook.
After the break, the Star came out strong and equalised eight minutes in. A Lee Kerr corner was not dealt with by the home side, the ball was played back out to the left, Bird’s cross nodded home by Donnelly from point blank range.
Morpeth regained the lead within six minutes thanks to a wonderful goal by Taylor. A long Harrision goal kick was flicked on by Chilton towards Taylor on the left. The forward manoeuvred the ball onto his right before curling an exquisite effort into the far right hand corner.
The visitors pushed and pushed for an equaliser, but it was the home side who created the better chances. Graydon almost pulled of a goal of the season candidate when his 30 yard fizzing strike, again with the outside of his boot’ was tipped around the post as it was headed for the top right hand corner.
Kerr then missed a golden chance for the visitors to equalise for a second time, his shot from 10 yards out missing the target when it was easier to score.
Another mazy run from Taylor led to another close miss. His strike deflected into the path of Chilton who forced yet another unbelievable save from Newbrook.
The Highwaymen then had the ball in the net, Graydon’s quick free-kick found Taylor in the box, his cross was diverted goal wards by Chilton, Newbrook yet again clawing away on the goal line.
The rebound hit Jordan Fry in the chest two yard out, the ball going into the net, the assistant flagging for handball. The replay’s showing the official got the decision spot on.
Morpeth were made to rue for their missed chances as Gray delivered a corner in the final seven minutes left on the clock. Harrison managed to get a fist to the ball, but he could only clear it to Bird who smashed it in the equaliser.
Morpeth nearly clinched it at the end, Sayer firing over from the edge of the area. A lot of missed chances for the home side, but a deserved point for the visitors.
