Media team sponsored by Northumbria Print

Morpeth continued their pre-season preparations with a 3-1 victory at Stockton Town on Wednesday evening.

A penalty from Liam Noble and a strike from Ryan Donaldson were enough for the Highwaymen to secure the win after Jamie Owens had put Stockton ahead. Jack Foalle sealed the win in added time. 

Michael Turner had the first opportunity of the game from a Liam Noble free kick but Turner saw his goalbound effort blocked. 

The hosts opened the scoring after 6 minutes when Jamie Owens was able to volley home from a tight angle at the back post from a deep cross. 

Morpeth looked to respond and on 11 minutes they had a good chance to level things up but Ryan Donaldson was unable to keep his header down Stephen Forster’s cross. 

The hosts looked confident in possession and passing the ball around well with Nathan Mulligan testing Dan Lowson but the Morpeth ‘keeper was more than equal to it. 

The game swung on 22 minutes as Donaldson was taken down in the box with the referee pointing to the spot. After the penalty woes of last season, Noble stepped up and sent Callum Roberts the wrong way. 

Morpeth took the lead on 31 minutes as a quick free kick on halfway was played through to Donaldson who tried to dink the ball over Roberts. The rebound fell kindly for the Morpeth man and he was able to slot home into an empty net. 

On 37 minutes, Ben Sayer tried an audacious chip from the edge of the box but got too much on it and it cleared the crossbar. 

The Anchors had a big chance to level things up but Kev Hayes blasted high over the bar after a low ball across goal had taken everyone out of the game. 

Just before the interval, Chris Reid had the chance to make it 3-1 but he headed over the bar at the far post after another good set piece from Noble. 

Five minutes into the second half and the home side again threatened, this time rattling the bar with a rasping drive from 20yds. 

The second half lacked any real chances it began to draw to its conclusion. Morpeth’s trialist saw an effort cleared off the line after the ‘keeper had failed to deal with a corner. Liam Noble tried to lob the keeper from 40yds but it failed to test the retreating ‘keeper and bounced wide. 

At the other end, Micky Turner did well to head behind a dangerous cross before Jeff Henderson had to be alert to head a corner off the line. 

Jack Foalle sealed the win in added time as he sprund the offside trap and raced clear before placing the ball past the ‘keeper.

Attention now turns to the fixture against Hemel Hempstead on Saturday which will take place at Alnwick Town with a 12.30 kick off.

Morpeth Town: Lowson, Forster, Reid, Sayer, J. Henderson, Turner, Foalle, Noble, L. Henderson, Donaldson, Phillips.

Subs: Hutchinson, Johnson, Trialist A, Trialist B, Turnbull, Trialist C