Poster
WEST AUCKLAND 0-1 MORPETH TOWN
Saturday 6 October, 3:00PM, LeagueMatch Sponsor: Ernie Redfearn & Jeff Powton
An excellent first half finish from Steven Young gave Morpeth all three points in a tight game although West Auckland struggled to find their true form that would put their League form back on track.
The game started quickly enough - a shot for either team being comfortably saved by the opposing keepers. The first good chance fell to Garry Barnes in the 15th minute. Danny Richmond's charge forward saw the midfielder pass the ball to Barnes before the forward miscued his shot wide of the mark in a promising position.
Morpeth's star forward Steven Young showed his class to snatch what proved to be the winner in the 23rd minute. Having been given as onside by the assistant referee, he produced an excellent finish to loop the ball over Mark Bell's head and into the net from 25 yards.
Adam Scope could have extended the lead a couple of minutes later but pulled his shot wide from the edge of the box. In comparison, Lee Ellison's shot from the edge of the area in the 27th minute was on target although the tame effort proved little trouble for Barry Poskett.
Ellison could not connect well enough with a shot that ended up wide of the goal in the 29th minute as West pressure began to increase. They were dealt a blow, though, with midfielder Ian Maddison forced off by an injury, youngster Bradley Woods replacing him.
Lively midfielder Danny Richmond looked to test Poskett in the 34th minute with a powerful goal bound shot but this was headed away by a defender. A couple of minutes later Brian Fairhurst fired a loose ball towards goal however went the wrong side of the post.
Garry Barnes had another good opportunity 5 minutes before the break when Lee Ellison dinked a ball over the defender into his strike partner's path only for Barnes to fire a shot over Poskett and unfortunately narrowly wide. Barnes then curled a shot wide after receiving the ball and cutting back inside his defender following Danny Richmond's charge forward.
The second half started with a positive 3 man move that nearly unlocked a tight Morpeth back line. 6 minutes in, Lee Ellison gave the ball to Danny Richmond who burst through the midfield, laid the ball out to Garry Barnes on the left and the forward fizzed the ball across goal when Lee Ellison arrived with a defender but could only steer the ball inches wide.
Morpeth were never guaranteed three points with only the one goal therefore looked to extend their lead. Firstly Radek Rakocinski's shot was easily held by Mark Bell before the West keeper punched a cross clear just as Steven Young was about to head the ball goal wards.
West Auckland were struggling to come up with creative ideas to get through the Morpeth defence however when they did, the assistant referee denied them. In the 73rd minute, Garry Barnes lashed an effort into the net after a neat 1-2 with Lee Ellison only to be denied by the offside flag.
Lee Ellison's free kick 8 minutes from time was easily held by Barry Poskett and his defenders blocked any other shots coming his way in the final minutes as Morpeth sealed a narrow victory to take the three points back to Craik Park.
1. Mark Bell, 2. Michael Heckley, 3. Brian Fairhurst, 4. Danny Richmond, 5. Scott Nicholson, 6. Michael Waller, 7. Danny Key, 8. Ian Maddison (12. Bradley Woods 29 mins), 9. Lee Ellison, 10. Garry Barnes, 11. Stuart Owen (17. Thomas Louden 63 mins)
Subs Not Used: 14. David Bayles, 15. Kevin Bromley, 16. Lee Hutton