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Morpeth welcome Whitby Town to Craik Park for a Pitching In NPL Premier Division clash that usually delivers plenty of entertainment.

With both sides in need of points – the Highwaymen wanting to inch closer to top spot and Whitby needing to move off the foot of the table – it is a game not to be missed.

LAST TIME OUT

The Highwaymen dug themselves out of a hole on Saturday to beat Stafford Rangers 2-1 at Craik Park. Trailing by a goal at the interval and not looking particularly threatening against second in the table Rangers, Morpeth upped their game, upped the tempo and scored two goals in four minutes to turn the match on its head. Liam Noble netted from the spot and Sam Fishburn scored an absolute beauty to ensure three points for third in the table Morpeth.

Whitby were on their travels but left Marine with a 2-0 defeat on their record. Conceding just before half-time put them in trouble before a second half effort pushed them closer to defeat. Despite playing well and creating chances, the side at the bottom of the league couldn’t get a foothold as they tumbled to another loss.

THE GAFFER

Highwaymen boss Craig Lynch is expecting a tough game but is hoping to use home advantage to his side’s benefit when Whitby come to town.

“We know they are going to be a hard-working, physical team but we’ve just got to keep doing what we’re good at and that takes us forward,” said Lynch.

“Being at home, we knew this week – with Stafford and Whitby at home – was going to be a big week for us and we’ve got to make use of that.

“I look at every team we play against but if we do what we’re good at, if we do the basics right, then it is going to take a hell of a team to come and beat us.”

Whitby boss Nathan Haslam wants his struggling side to start being more efficient in front of goal as they attempt to climb off the bottom of the table.

“We need to convert chances, we need to be clinical,” he said.

“We’ve got to stop this naivety. When we pull that together, we’ll do what we need to do and that is winning football matches.

“We’re not going to get too high and we’re not going to get too low. We lost [at Marine] but there was lots of good stuff from us as well and that bodes well.”

TICKETS

Tickets are on sale on the day, on the gate (cash only) with the following categories:

Adults – £12

Concessions – £8

Kids – £4

Under-5s – FREE