Battling Bay make Morpeth work hard for cup victory

NORTHUMBERLAND SENIOR CUP QUARTER FINAL
MORPETH TOWN 2 WHITLEY BAY 0
Wednesday 22nd January
Morpeth eventually made their higher status count and progressed to the Northumberland Senior Cup semi finals but the holders were made to work hard for their victory by a determined Bay side whose defensive display was a huge improvement from last Saturday. Dan Lister, James Martin and Luke Taylor all returned to the side but striker Michael Colquhoun was cup-tied, having played for Bedlington in the previous round while on loan to the Terriers.
Major investment has resulted in huge changes both on and off the pitch at Craik Park since Whitley’s last visit two and a half years ago. With a greatly strengthened squad, Morpeth have achieved successive promotions to take them two steps up the non league pyramid while the ground itself has been transformed.
Lister made a comfortable save from Henderson in the first action of the game then James Fairley won a corner for Whitley but the flag kick was cleared by the home defence.
There was little to choose between the sides at this stage but Morpeth gradually pushed Whitley back without creating any real chances. Lister was not really troubled as several attempts from distance flew high and wide of the target. Whitley were looking comfortable as the central defensive pairing of Lowery and Taylor combined effectively to deny the hosts space or time on the ball.
The nearest that either side came to breaking the deadlock in the opening half arrived in stoppage time when former Bay defender Chris Reid ventured forward and drilled a 25 yard shot goalwards but the ball clipped the top of the bar and flew out of play.
With the game still goal-less, Whitley would have been the happier of the sides at the interval but on the restart Morpeth were quickly on the attack and when they won a corner, Hutchinson’s header was not far off target. In the 49th minute Morpeth made the breakthrough following slick and accurate passing between Sayer and Taylor on the right of the Whitley box and when the ball was played across goal, Liam Henderson slotted home.
Morpeth were now looking more of a threat but fears that Whitley might struggle to cope were allayed by more solid defending. Several players on both sides were cautioned for over-zealous challenges and just before the hour Lister made a tremendous save at his near post to deny Stephen Forster.
Six minutes later, Lister was again in the action and had to be on his toes when Henderson attempted to chip the ball into the top corner of the net but the young keeper leapt backwards to keep the ball out. Another good save by Lister kept out an attempt by Henderson following a corner before Morpeth doubled their lead in fortuitous fashion in the 71st minute. Sean Taylor was played through on the right near the by-line and his cross into the goalmouth took a deflection off the back of James Martin and flew into the net leaving Lister helpless. While the circumstances of the goal were harsh on Whitley, the two goal lead was probably a fair reflection of the game.
Luke Salmon, out of the Bay side in recent weeks, came off the bench for the final half hour and injected some pressure down the left wing but despite the occasional burst forward by Mark Robinson, Whitley could make little impression on a strong Morpeth defence and keeper Dan Lowson was relatively untroubled.
Former Bay striker Jack Foalle came off the bench for the hosts late on but he could not add to the score though he might have done better as the game approached stoppage time when Lister could only parry a stinging shot from Finnigan and the ball briefly ran loose.
Whitley had struggled to break through a strong and experienced Morpeth rearguard but at the other end of the pitch the defence had faced a stern examination from a very strong team and acquitted themselves with credit.
This performance should hold Whitley in good stead as they now return to league action on Saturday and a trip to Northallerton.
WHITLEY BAY: Lister, Smith, Martin, Lowery, Taylor, Anderson, Orrell, Robinson, Martindale(Olsen 66mins), Fairley(Proctor 74mins), Giles(Salmon 57mins)
Substitutes not used: Bexton, Jennison
Cautions: Lowery, Martin, Giles
Referee: Adam Nichol
Attendance: 305