SHILDON V MORPETH TOWN

Northern League Division 1

As the FA Cup and Vase fade into their latter stages, A Good Cup Run switches emphasis to the league competitions and the run in to the prizes on offer for some local clubs. Can Darlington secure promotion from National League North? Can Spennymoor, Blyth or Whitby gain promotion to it from the Northern Premier League? And can Shildon retain their Northern League title?

Tonight’s match addresses the last mentioned, with third in the table Shildon playing fourth placed Morpeth Town. Both teams trail by a margin from the twin runaways, North and South Shields, but have some games in hand. A win tonight is vital, a loss possibly terminal, and a draw unhelpful.

This fixture was inexplicably postponed a few weeks ago on a mild sunny Saturday afternoon due to a puddle near a corner flag, so now takes place on a cool Wednesday night that awaits the arrival of storm Doris. We also await the arrival of the Morpeth team and supporters whose journey south has been held up by an accident on the A1(M), and it is eight o’clock before the visitors emerge to warm up, the game getting underway at twenty past.

Shildon start the better and even though Morpeth soon get into a rhythm too it is the home team that create chances. Adam Burnicle chases through balls whether or not he is favourite and this pays off once when he is able to round the keeper, but his attempt on goal is from wide out and defensive cover is in place to prevent damage. Then in a swift break, left back Matty Robson carries the ball sixty yards before passing to fellow full back Jamie Harwood who shoots just wide. Midfielder Lewis Wing has a free kick saved at full stretch by Morpeth keeper Karl Dryden and then shows neat footwork to create space for a shot that whistles just over the bar.

It has been all Shildon, but on the half hour a misplaced pass from Daniel Moore in midfield gives the Morpeth speedster Sean Taylor the opportunity to push the ball past the Shildon defenders, round keeper Nick Liversedge’s injudicious rush from his line, and slot the ball home from a narrow angle.

From the restart Shildon resume the offensive and a long ball into the box results in a tussle, a tumble, and the award of a penalty. Robson steps up to the spot and confidently smacks the ball into the net. The remainder of the half continues the pattern of Shildon possession and pressure with occasional dangerous looking Morpeth counter attacks, but the score remains 1-1 at the break.

Shildon start the second half on the front foot but after an attack breaks down, a Morpeth clearance is dwelled upon by a defender who then gives up possession. The ball is then hit on a long diagonal into the Shildon box. Keeper Liversedge makes another unwise excursion from his line but connects only with his team mate Harwood. As they lie in a heap the ball runs through to centre forward Henderson who has a tap in to restore Morpeth’s lead.

The visitors gain confidence from this turn of events and Shildon heads drop for a while. Joseph Wilson cuts in from the left and shoots wide, then Henderson breaks clear and squares to a team mate who has the goal at his mercy until Liversedge intervenes with a marvellous spread-eagled save.

Having survived that scare Shildon reassert themselves and almost draw level when Billy Greulich-Smith hits the post with a header from a corner; Moore also gets a header on target but that is easily saved. The game is even now and Morpeth too force a save when Henderson heads on target.

As Shildon probe for an opening Wing tries a chipped pass inside the Morpeth box. It hits an upraised elbow and the referee awards another penalty. Robson takes again and hits a variation on his first kick, but with the same result.

All square with twenty minutes to go and both teams go for the win they both need. There are corners, crosses and free kicks that produce frantic action but no more goals. The two-all finish preserves the status quo between the teams but for both represents a further loss of ground on North and South Shields.