The Highwaymen kicked off 2022 in fantastic fashion as they deservedly beat Whitby Town at Craik Park on New Years Day writes Sam Donovan. 

Goals in either half from Andrew Johnson and Jack Foalle did the damage as Sean Taylor was red carded in stoppage time at the end of the game as tempers which had been flaring during the course of a game that saw 10 yellows and a red card.

The first chance of the game arrived on 18 minutes with Ryan Donaldson getting on the end of a long ball over the top but he rifled an effort over the bar. 

Whitby responded and Adam Gell should have done better when nodding wide from a corner after Jacob Hazel had seen his effort deflect behind for a corner. 

Donaldson had another opportunity on 35 minutes but good work from the covering Jameel Ible was able to get a block in and the ball was grabbed by Shane Bland. 

Morpeth took the lead through Andrew Johnson on 40 minutes when he had the composure to take a touch before slotting home following good work by Jack Foalle down the right flank. Whitby protested the goal as they suspected a handball from Micky Turner who was prone on the floor but the referee waved away the appeals. 

Whitby started the second half well but their set piece delivery was poor and their corners were unable to find their intended targets. 

Bradley Fewster had the best chance of the game for the visitors on 49 minutes but his angled drive lacked the necessary power and Dan Lowson was able to get down to make the comfortable save.

Both sides kept threatening to create opportunities but found their chances limited by poor decision making and some pieces of good defending thwarting the attacking intentions of the sides. 

Morpeth sealed the points in the 83rd minute when Joe Walton did well down the right side and he curled in a cross that Foalle met on the volley and found the bottom corner. 

Whitby had struggled to create much in the game and even at 2-0 struggled to muster opportunities to try and find a way back into the game. 

In the 3rd minute of added time, Josh MacDonald sent an effort onto the roof of the net but that was as good as it got for the Seasiders. 

A feisty game that had always threatened to boil over did so in added time as Sean Taylor was given his marching orders for a poor challenge. 

The win was no less than Morpeth deserved who despite starting slowly were at their clinical best and deprived Whitby of any chances to extend their run of scintillating form under Craig Lynch. 

Morpeth are next in action next Saturday when they welcome Stafford Rangers to Craik Park. Kick off us at 3pm and tickets are available online before the game and on the gate.

Morpeth Town: Lowson, Walton, Reid, Hodgson, J. Henderson (c), Turner, Foalle, Noble, Johnson (Forster, 82’) Donaldson (Oliver 54’), Taylor.

Subs not Used: Anderson, Phillips

Goals: Johnson 40’, Foalle 83’

Whitby Town: Bland, Fergus, Sukar, Gell, Rowe, Ible (Hackett, 57’), Dijksteel (MacDonald, 80’), Hawkins, Hazel (Giles, 73’), Fewster, Griffiths.

Subs not Used: Dyer, Shepherd.

Goals: