Match Report proudly sponsored by Northumbria Print

The Highwaymen moved into the Techflow Marine Northumberland Senior Cup final for the third successive season with a hardfought but deserved victory over North Shields on Wednesday evening.

Jeff Henderson opened the scoring on 12 minutes before the Robins equalised on the stroke of half-time through  Callum Smith. Joe Walton restored the lead 4 minutes into the second half before the game was sealed in the 89th minute through Liam Noble.  

The hosts began on the front foot with Callum Campbell heading over from a corner on only 2 minutes. 

Callum Patton went closer on 9 minutes but from a tight angle he scuffed a cross-shot across the face of goal which was turned behind by Jeff Henderson. 

Town took the lead with their first real chance of the game with Henderson nodding home at the back post from Jack Foalle’s cross. Shields had been unable to deal with the initial threat and Foalle recycled the ball allowing Henderson to grab his 3rd goal of the season. 

Dan Lowson was the busier of the 2 goalkeeper’s and he was forced into a reaction save as he tipped a looping header from Wayne Buchannan over the top. 

On 25 minutes, Joe Walton had a great opportunity to double the lead as he raced clear but fantastic defending from former Morpeth man Chris McDonald got back and forced Walton to fire into the side netting.

Sam Hodgson looking for his 2nd goal in 2 games ballooned the ball over the bar after it fell to him from Liam Henderson’s shot which was parried by Greg Purvis. 

Shields equalised in the 45th minute as they capitalised on a defensive error and the ball was fed through to Callum Smith who kept his composure to slot the ball beyond Dan Lowson. 

Morpeth needed to respond after being pegged back and they did in emphatic fashion as they scored on the counterattack. North Shields had a corner that was headed away at the near post and similar to the goal that Walton scored against South Shields, he buried his effort into the bottom corner.

There was confusion over the goal as despite it clearly going over the line, the ball bounced back out from a stanchion and Shields cleared. The referee initially allowed play to continue before being alerted to his assistant who indicated it had crossed the line. 

There was to be fewer chances in the second half as the wind picked up and played havoc for both sides.

The game was wrapped up in the 89th minute. Carl Finnigan was blocked off on the edge of the area by Buchannan and Liam Noble curled home a superb free-kick into the bottom corner giving Purvis no chance. Bizarrely, the assistant flagged for an offside but again after the referee spoke to his assistant the goal was given. 

Morpeth return to league action on Saturday when they make the long trip to Staffordshire to take on Stafford Rangers at Martson Road. Kick off is at 3pm.  

North Shields: Purvis, Cassidy, McDonald, Ormston, New, Buchannan, Cunnigham (Van-Zandvliet, 65’), Forster (c)(Robinson, 78’), Campbell (Bainbridge, 78’), Smith, Patton. 

Subs: Williams, Skirpan

Goals: Campbell 45’.

Morpeth Town: Lowson, Williams, Turner, Noble, Hutchinson, J. Henderson (c)(Ramsey, 71’), Walton, Hodgson (Sayer, 60), L. Henderson, Turnbull, Foalle (Finnigan, 71’).

Subs not Used: Reid, Mohammed.

Goals: J. Henderson 12’, Walton 49’, Noble 89’.

Man of the Match: Liam Noble.