Match Report brought to you by Northumbria Print

Morpeth advanced to the third round of the FA Trophy for the second successive season after another penalty shootout success on Saturday writes Sam Donovan.

Ben Sayer and Jamie McDonald traded goals in the 90 minutes before the game went to penalties. Once again, it was the Morpeth goalkeeper who would be the hero, James Anderson in only his second appearance for the club denied Bohan Dixon as the Highwaymen converted 5 perfect penalties to progress.

The Yellows started the game well and had the first opportunity of the game on 4 minutes; Matty Grivosti turned and shot from the edge of the area but Anderson was equal to it and made the save. 

Morpeth took the lead with their first effort of the game on 24 minutes. Mitch Duggan dallied on the ball and had it pinched off him by Liam Henderson who strode forward and rounded Daniel Atherton but saw his goalbound effort blocked on the line by Mark Roberts but Ben Sayer was onhand to tap home. 

Warrington levelled things up with 7 minutes of the half remaining, Sean Willaims whipped in an inviting cross that was headed home by Jamie McDonald. 

The hosts continued to create chances in the first half and Ben Ramsey had to be alert to clear off the line from a corner.

The second half started in the same way that the first had ended with the Yellows in control. Stefan Mols forced Anderson into another top save before McDonald prodded the loose ball wide of the post. 

Just shy of the hour mark and Ben Ramsey had a good opportunity after Joe Walton had seen the ball deflect off James Baillie with Ramsey steering an effort into the side netting. 

This was the turning point in the game with Morpeth looking more dangerous and Jack Foalle was denied with Atherton tipping the ball away with a quarter of an hour remaining. 

Liam Henderson went even closer to putting Morpeth back in front but saw his shot blocked on the line by Baillie after Foalle had used his electric pace to get clear and square the ball across the box. 

As the game entered stoppage time, the game swung from one end to another; Henderson was once again denied by Roberts after Chris Reid had done well to keep the ball alive.

Warrington went even closer with their final chance in added time as Mols struck the frame of the goal with an overhead kick following a goalmouth scramble. 

Into the penalty shootout, Walton, Henderson, Liam Noble, Sam Hodgson and Ryan Donaldson all converted their penalties after Anderson had thwarted Bohan Dixon.

Morpeth return to league action on Tuesday night when they welcome Basford United to Craik Park, kick off is at 7.45pm. 

Warrington Town: Atherton, Baillie, Regan, Williams, Roberts (c), Duggan, Grivosti (Harris, 72’), Mols, McDonald (Buckley 72’), Dixon, Duffy (Mackreth, 46’).

Subs not Used: Hough, Reid, McDonald

Goals: McDonald 38’.

Penalties: Williams, Mackreth, Dixon – Saved, Mols.

Morpeth Town: Anderson, Walton, Reid, Sayer (Noble, 72’), J. Henderson (c), Turner, Ramsey, Hodgson, L. Henderson, Donaldson, Johnson (Foalle, 54’).

Subs not Used: Phillips, Oliver, Ward.

Goals: Sayer 24’

Penalties: Walton, L. Henderson, Noble, Hodgson, Donaldson.