By Andrew McDonnell (@AndrewSJourno)
Joseph Walton’s brace helped Morpeth Town edge out a strong North Shields side 2-1 at the Daren Persson Stadium – their first win at the Morgue in over five years.
The winger took the ball round Kyle Hayes and tapped into the net on the stroke of half-time to hand the hosts the lead.
Walton doubled Morpeth’s advantage eight minutes after the restart after firing home from close range.
Bobby Taylor pulled one back on 82 minutes to make it a nervous finish to the game, but the Highwaymen held out for their 10th-consecutive league win.
Morpeth remain in third after the win and have closed the gap between themselves and the Robins to four points with three games in hands.
Nick Gray and Dave Malone’s side thrashed neighbours Ashington 5-1 on Monday night, but they were made to defend in the opening half-hour of the game.
The Robins went close on 12 minutes when Karl Dryden made a low save to deny Lee Mason and then again from close range when Dan Wilson latched onto the rebound and struck at the ‘keeper.
Jon McDonald’s side should have gone ahead eight minutes later when an unmarked Michael McKeown directed Ryan Carr’s cross wide of the far post.
Shields hit the woodwork just a minute later when Curtis Coppen struck the ball on the turn and rattled the frame of the goal.
Morpeth’s first chance came just after the half-hour mark as Liam Henderson nodded Keith Graydon’s long-ball over the top into the arms of the Hayes.
Graydon struck a free-kick over on 41 minutes and after Mason’s effort just evaded the top corner of the goal minutes later, Morpeth struck a hammer blow just before the break.
A quick break forward allowed Henderson to play the ball over the top of the defence to Walton, who took the ball around the approaching ‘keeper and tapped into an empty net.
It was a big blow for the hosts, who had pressed for the majority of the first-half, but Morpeth came out after half-time and immediately went after their opponents.
Sean Taylor’s ball inside was helped on by an unselfish Henderson, who passed up a chance to shoot at goal, and Walton rifled the ball home from close range.
The visitors were on top and looked to press home their advantage once again as Walton drilled an effort across goal and wide before Graydon’s audacious lob was gathered by Hayes.
Taylor played a one-two with Henderson on the edge of the area on 64 minutes and curled just wide of the post as Morpeth searched for a third goal.
The next opening came 12 minutes from the end and went the hosts’ way as Mark Davison, who had been on the field a matter of seconds, had to clear Adam Forster’s header off the line.
The Robins managed to pull a goal back four minutes later and it was certainly a nervous finish for the visitors.
A cross into the Morpeth penalty area was cleared out as far as substitute Taylor, who smashed the ball into the top corner from 25-yards out – a sublime finish.
Davison went close to sealing the victory as his looping header was pushed over the bar by Hayes.
Carr had an effort blocked near the goal line in the first minute of additional time, but the visitors managed to hold out for the three points.
Morpeth have four games remaining this season, two at home and two away, and will be looking to close out strongly.
North Shields: Hayes, Donnison, Lancaster, Forster, Coppen, Hughes, Carr, Ormston (Taylor, 79), Wilson (Bainbridge, 65), Mason (Holmes, 65), McKeown
Subs Not Used: Summerly, Kerridge
Morpeth Town: Dryden, Forster, Turner, Sayer, Hall, Reid, Taylor, Graydon, Fry, Henderson (Davison, 77), Walton
Subs Not Used: Robinson, Anderson, Morris, Grieve
Goals: 0-1, 45 min, Walton; 0-2, 53 min, Walton; 1-2, 82 min, Taylor
Referee: Shane Sugden
Assistants: William Pane and David Pill
Attendance: 481
Photo: Chris Chambers/ CJC Photo (Official Photographer of Morpeth Town AFC)
