EBAC Northern League Division One
Morpeth Town 3-1 West Allotment Celtic
James Novak 8, Keith Graydon 17, Sean Taylor 52; Ian Lee 90+3
By Stuart Dick at Craik Park
Morpeth Town kept the pressure on league leaders Shildon with a comprehensive 3-1 win over West Allotment Celtic at Craik Park.
A thunderbolt from James Novak followed by a Keith Graydon goal gave Town a 2-0 goal lead at the half, Michael Chilton also missing a penalty the first period.
More dominance in the second half saw Sean Taylor curl in a beautifully placed free-kick before a late consolation from former Highwaymen striker Ian Lee scuppered the clean sheet for Nick Gray’s side.
Town made four changes from the team that faced Bedlington on Tuesday night. Karl Dryden, Lee McAndrew, Chris Swailes and Jordan Fry came into the side, with Chris Jewels, Luke Carr, Niall Harrison and Jordan Nellis missing out.
In what is becoming a habit, the Highwaymen started the game strongly and caused a number of problems for the visitors. A short corner saw Novak and Ben Sayer combine to find Taylor 12 yards out, his fizzing effort palmed over the bar by Celtic’s ‘keeper.
On five minutes a fine flowing move allowed Graydon to take aim from the edge of the area, his shot was deflected wide by Chilton, who was standing in an offside position.
The deserved opener finally came in the eighth minute as a number of Town players combined from a right wing throw-in to pick out Graydon on halfway. He switched the ball to the left with Novak who composed himself 35 yards out and rifled a left footed firecracker over the ‘keepers head and into the roof of the net, a spectacular strike.
After ten minutes of calm, Morpeth upped gears once more and double their lead in the 18th minute. Fry dispossessed a West Allotment defender in midfield with a sliding challenge, the ball dropping to Sayer who picked out Taylor on the left. He cut inside, bringing two defenders with him creating space to backheel into the path of Graydon eight yards out who slotted home, via the boot of a sliding Celtic blocker.
The visitors finally showed some attacking intent at 2-0 down, but still struggled to trouble Dryden, a long range effort from the visitors not troubling the Town ‘keeper.
The patient Morpeth build up play continued to wear out Celtic, Lee McAndrew breaking down the left and crossing for Chilton six yards out, but he could only guide his header into the ‘keepers arms.
A third was almost added on 29 minutes, Novak’s right wing corner was met at the near post by Fry, but his header flew wide of the left upright. Sayer was next to go close, he was left unmarked at the back post from a Chris Swailes diagonal ball, but hit a tame effort straight at the ‘keepers legs.
The Highwaymen were awarded a penalty on the stroke of half time when the Celtic ‘keeper took down Taylor as he reached the six yard box. Chilton stepped up and hit a low effort to the ‘keeper left, the goalie getting a strong hand to the ball and pushing it wide.
A through ball in injury time nearly allowed the visitors to half the deficit, but the West Allotment striker was unable to hit the target from close range.
Seven minute into the second period, Novak was fouled on the edge of the area, just to the right of centre 22 yards out. Taylor stepped up and curled a voluptuous effort into the top right hand corner of the net.
From then on, Morpeth slowed the game down and controlled the game for long periods, but rarely troubling the goal. The best effort another long range effort from Novak.
As the game wore on, Morpeth began to threaten once again. Novak picked the ball up in defence and was allowed to run 60 yards before playing the ball inside to substitute Luke Carr who slid in Steven Anderson, the striker hitting his effort into the goalkeepers’ chest.
A few minutes later Town were on the attack again, Taylor with a piercing run, beating 3 defenders before playing the ball out wide to McAndrew. The winger whipped a cross into the six yard box where Taylor headed wide.
Chilton should have made it four with 10 minutes to go. Carr picked up the ball in the centre of the Celtic half. He slid the ball through the West Allotment backline into the path of Chilton who fired over from 12 yards out with just the ‘keeper to beat.
With just second remaining in the game, former Morpeth Town striker Ian Lee peeled away at the back post, taking down a cross with his first touch before firing past Dryden for the consolation goal.
