EBAC Northern League Division One

Morpeth Town 2-1 Bedlington Terriers

Sean Taylor 11, Ben Sayer 82; Steven Little 41

By Stuart Dick at Craik Park

An 82nd minute Ben Sayer strike condemned a plucky Bedlington Terriers  to defeat as the Highwaymen kept their 100% home record in a 2-1 win at Craik Park on Wednesday evening.

Sean Taylor had given Morpeth the lead after just 11 minutes, but the visitors replied five minutes before the interval through Captain Steven Little.

But for the second time in 9 days it was Sayer who stole the headline with a sublime finish to secure another three points for Town.

Morpeth gave a first start of the season to Jordan Nellis against his former club, as well as Chris Jewels and Niall Harrison. It was Nellis who had the first opportunity of the game after intercepting the pass of a Bedlington defender, seeing the ‘keeper off his line he went for the 40 yard chip, but mishit his effort wide.

The Highwaymen then took the lead in the 11th minute after a free-flowing move involving Keith Graydon, Nellis, Sayer, James Novak and Michael Chilton before Luke Carr picked up the ball on the left. He slid the ball between two defenders into the feet of Novak who took a touch before playing in Taylor with the outside of his boot, the forward making no mistake with an excellent finish.

To be fair to the visitors, they came into the game over the next five minutes culminating in an Adam Harvey strike that was well saved by Harrison, the rebound falling to Andy McBride who was closed down well by the Morpeth stopper.

Town continued to squander opportunities, a problem that has haunted the side all season, Luke Carr picked out Nellis on the left hand side, the strike unable to keep his left footed effort down.

The home side were given a scare on 25 minutes. After some patient build up play by the Terriers, John Pendlebury whipped a right wing cross into the penalty area, Liam Hudson at the back post able to square the ball to Harvey, whose goal bound effort was blocked in the six yard box by David Hiftle.

At the other end, a short corner caused the visitors problems, Novak breaking into the penalty area and hitting an effort at the near post, turned behind by Fabian Otte for another corner kick.

Taylor almost netted a carbon copy of his first goal on the half hour mark. Carr picked up the ball 25 yards out after Bedlington loss of possession in their own half. The midfielder slotted the ball into the path of Taylor who was once again one on one with Otte, this time the ‘keeper came up trumps.

Otte’s save went as far as Chilton to the right of the penalty area, he pulled the ball back to Carr he shot from 10 yards out, blocked on the line by a desperate Bedlington last ditch dive.

Graydon was next to take aim, the ball falling to him on the edge of the penalty after Sayer dispossessed a Terrier defender, his curled effort going just over the bar. His next effort from a 28 yard free-kick fell narrowly wide.

Bedlington equalised just four minutes before half-time. After Jewels cleared a Terriers corner, Marc Dummett played in Hudson down the left. His floated cross was powered home by Steven Little with a fantastic header.

Morpeth nearly regained the lead direct from the kick-off, a strong Sayer run saw him enter the penalty area from the left wing before trying to beat Otte at his near post, the ball ricocheting off the post and wide.

The opening stages of the second half were extremely cagey, neither side getting on top, Morpeth’s best chances falling to Taylor, whilst Terriers right-back Pendlebury went closest for the away side.

The introduction of Lee McAndrew and Steven Anderson added life to home sides cause, the latter picking up a Novak cross on the edge of the area but failed to hit the target. Novak was in the action again minutes later, his free-kick was only parried by Otte, Bedlington just about clearing their lines.

Michael Chilton though he’d give his side the lead on 78 minutes. McAndrew’s cross from the right reached Anderson at the back post, his effort bounced of the ‘keeper to Chilton 5 yards out, he headed into the ground and the ball bounced over the bar.

Morpeth’s pressure finally told eight minutes from time. Keelan Nellis cleared the ball for the visitors to Novak, who passed to Sayer on the left. The midfielder cut inside, beating three defenders before unleashing a low strike into the bottom left hand corner, an excellent finish from Ben.

The remaining minutes were played out comfortably by the home side, controlling the ball in the corners as the frustrated visitors tried to get hold of the ball.

Three points for the Highwaymen, which sees the side remain undefeated in the league after seven games, an excellent start to the season by Nick Gray’s men.