Media team sponsored by Northumbria Print
Morpeth Town eased into the next round of the Techflow Marine Senior Cup with a X-0 win over Whitley Bay at Craik Park.
The Highwaymen were three to the good by the 34th minute as Andrew Johnson bagged a brace, with Ben Ramsey notching his third goal for the club. Jack Foalle made it four just after the break to end the scoring.
Morpeth dominated the early exchanges, creating chances even if they were half-chances. Connor Oliver saw a third minute effort deflected wide of the post before Johnson glanced a header off target on 11 minutes after wriggling free of his marker.
The best chance of the game so far arrived three minutes later as Morpeth pulled their opponents apart down the right. Oliver freed Foalle and his low cross found Johnson on the stretch. But the forward couldn’t find a way past Daniel Lister in the Whitley Bay goal, the stopper making a fine save to keep the scores all-square.
Johnson would get another sight of goal minutes later, but his effort from the edge of the box drifted wide of the post.
The hosts would hit the front through Johnson in the 19th minute, the forward cutting in and firing into the back of the net to provide the Highwaymen with a deserved opener.
That lead was doubled in the 22nd minute when Ramsey got in behind the defence and lashed into the bottom corner.
Two became three in the 34th minute as AJ registered his second of the night and 10th of the season. The forward slid in at the near post to score, converting Oliver’s low ball in from the right.
The second half started in similar fashion to the first, with Morpeth on the front foot and adding a fourth through Foalle. A lovely 52nd minute through ball released Ramsey down the left and he crossed for Foalle to slide in at the far post.
Jeff Henderson nodded wide from Ryan Donaldson’s cross on 61 minutes before his centre-half partner Michael Turner then nodded wide from a corner soon after.
Five minutes later and Ramsey got in behind again but drove straight at keeper Lister.
Liam Henderson went close on 78 minutes following a neat through ball by Donaldson. Clean through and with the keeper rushing out, he dinked past the stopper but the post too.
The game meandered to an already decided conclusion as Morpeth progressed in the Senior Cup to a home tie with Blyth Spartans.
The Highwaymen are next in action on Saturday when we host top of the table Matlock Town at Craik Park (3pm). Tickets available online through our website and on the gate on the day (cash only).
MORPETH TOWN: Anderson, Forster, Reid, Phillips, J.Henderson (c), Turner, Foalle (L.Henderson 62’), Hodgson, Johnson (Millington 67’), Oliver (Donaldson 59’), Ramsey.
SUBS NOT USED: Sayer, Walton
WHITLEY BAY: Lister, Dorward, McGivern (Dunn 53’), Lowery, Taylor, Anderson, McFarlane, Dick, Parker (Dippenaar 67’), Orrell (Chanayire 67’), Coulson.
SUBS NOT USED: Ramsey, Lee
ATT: 520
