Match report proudly sponsored by Northumbria Print

Morpeth Town put in a superb away day display as they cruised to a 3-0 win at Stalybridge Celtic in the Pitching In NPL Premier Division.

The Highwaymen did all the damage at Bower Fold in the first 36 minutes, scoring through Connor Thomson on 15 minutes, Sam Fishburn on 23, and Callum Morris on 36.

Morpeth made two changes to their starting line-up from the 6-3 win at home to Lancaster City on Tuesday night, with Morris and Thomson coming in for Michael Turner and Jack Foalle.

It was the home team who would start the game brighter, with a succession of half chances surmised by Osebi Abadaki, who blazed over the top on seven minutes.

Tinashe Chankwana then forced a smart low stop from Town custodian Dan Lowson on 10 minutes, before Morpeth grew into the game and took full advantage of their first real opportunity.

A long Chris Reid ball forward caught the uncertain Stalybridge backline out, allowing Thomson to get in behind them. The first touch dropped the ball like a stone and the second saw the winger dispatch a shot into the bottom corner to put his side in front with his fourth goal of the season.

Reid looped a header over the top as the visitors attempted to turn the screw, and they duly did on 23 minutes through Fishburn.

The striker, a constant menace to the home defence throughout, profited from excellent wing play by Thomson, the latter twisting and turning before crossing for Fishburn. The on-loan Carlisle United front man turned on the edge of the six-yard box and fired into the back of the net to double the Highwaymen’s advantage.

Moses Yoak blasted a free-kick so far over on 26 minutes that it cleared the stadium, summing up a frustrating afternoon for Celtic.

In contrast, Morpeth were pressing for a third and got the goal their performance deserved on 36 minutes through Morris, the defender latching on to a loose ball in the box, following a corner, to smash a shot into the roof of the net.

Fishburn should have added to it on 38 minutes when breaking clear after another long ball over the top of the defence. But, after being pulled back in the build up, his shot was saved by keeper Greg Hall. The referee opted not to punish the penalty incident in the build up, which would have resulted in a possible red card, and allowed the game to continue.

The second half was a lower key affair as Ben Sayer shot straight at the keeper and Jeff Henderson looped a header over as Morpeth threatened a fourth. Domaine Rouse headed well wide in response for the beleaguered hosts.

Fishburn then spurned a glorious chance to double his tally on 63 minutes, miscuing from yards out with an open net to let Stalybridge off the hook.

Raul Corriea and Ben Ramsey both shot into side netting as the hosts improved but not sufficiently enough to get anything out of the game.

Then came Morris’ red card on 76 minutes. The defender rightly received a second yellow card for a routine foul but in the ensuing reaction Abadaki, while trying to get up, got himself on to Morris’ shoulders, like a scarf! He persisted to have the defender in a head lock for a bizarre period of time before the referee decided no action should be taken.

Despite playing the last 14 minutes with 10 men, Morpeth were rarely troubled as they eased to victory.

The Highwaymen are next in action when hosting Bamber Bridge on Tuesday night. Tickets are on sale online here, and on the night on the gate (cash only).

STALYBRIDGE CELTIC: Hall, Richardson, Summers (Hanley 60’), Miller, Waldron (Padden 46’), Danquah, Abadaki, Yoak, Corriea, Rouse, Chakwana (Liptrott 56’).

SUBS: Bailey-Jones, Leach

MORPETH TOWN: Lowson, Wombwell, Reid (Robson 43’), Sayer (Pani 77’), Henderson (c), Morris, Ramsey (Turner 77’), King, Fishburn, Donaldson, Thomson.

SUBS: Foalle, Pearson

ATT: 324