Match report proudly sponsored by Northumbria Print

Morpeth Town tumbled out of the Emirates FA Cup at the First Qualifying Round stage after a narrow 2-1 replay loss at Warrington Town on Tuesday night.

After a 2-2 draw at Craik Park on Saturday, both sides went toe-to-toe for the third time this season with a trip to Hyde United in the next round at stake.

An evenly balanced game saw both Morpeth and Warrington probe and press without really threatening the opposition keeper, Jeff Henderson heading a goalbound shot off target while Chris Reid’s enterprising run down the flank saw his cross deflected across goal by Warrington centre-back Evan Gumbs.

A string of Highwaymen corners put pressure on the hosts, with Reid’s looping header being tipped over by Tony Thompson, and a backheel from Connor Thomson going straight into the grasp of Thompson.

But with stalemate looking likely at the interval, Warrington changed the context of the game three minutes before half-time. Sean Williams sent a corner in from the right and Dale Pearson was the unfortunate man at the near post to head into his own net and put the hosts ahead.

Town came out with greater purpose in attack, on the front foot and looking to generate crossing opportunities down the flanks. It led to the equaliser on 61 minutes, from Jack Foalle.

The forward, netting his fourth of the season, capitalised on a goalkeeping howler as Thompson let a Reid cross slip through his grasp allowing Foalle to slot in at the back post.

That parity would last all of 120 seconds as Morpeth conceded almost immediately as a ball in from Stefan Mols found Gumbs up from the back and he glanced a header across Dan Lowson’s goal and into the back of the net.

The Highwaymen struggled to create much in the final third as they chased a second equaliser of the game, with Lowson saving superbly from the dangerous Isaac Buckley-Ricketts to keep his side in the match.

But it wasn’t enough and Morpeth exited the competition. They are next in action when welcoming Bamber Bridge to Craik Park on Saturday for a Pitching In NPL Premier Division clash (3pm).

WARRINGTON TOWN: Thompson, Seary. White, Hannigan, Gumbs, McDonald, Mols, Williams, Buckley-Ricketts, Dixon, Duffy.

SUBS: Amis, Harris, Howard, Putnam, Walker, Speare.

MORPETH TOWN: Lowson, Wombwell, Reid (Morris 90), Donaldson, Henderson, Turner, Foalle, Pani (Scott 84), Pearson, Thomson, Ramsey (King 66).

SUBS: Harvey, Geliher.

ATT: 445