League

Morpeth Park
Spectators: 6716 (Terracing: 5000, Seating: 1716, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Phillip Fairfax kicked off to start the match. Owen Harris took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Phillip Fairfax, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 5 minutes had been played when some careless play by Whitley Bay AFC's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. George Fry was slow to take the kick. During this time Morpeth's players had a chance to rest. After taking down the ball on Morpeth's corner Gary Roebuck fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Owen Harris quite easily take care of the ball. In the 6th minute, Jordan Storry hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. A hard shot 10 in the game by Perry Wybrow from a close distance when the talented Owen Harris managed to make a qualified save. Whitley Bay AFC's players were relieved. When Eddy Kearney fell near the penalty area in the 11th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Morpeth's protests and gave Eddy Kearney a yellow card for diving instead. The supporters of Whitley Bay AFC booed when Morpeth was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 11 match minutes in a wonderful position. Eddy Kearney didn't get a good kick on the ball. After 13 minutes, Phillip Fairfax mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Morpeth and the Whitley Bay AFC players grew even worse after the yellow card. Phillip Fairfax hit a great freekick 13 minutes into the match. In the 15th match minute, Whitley Bay AFC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Filippo Berardini to maneuver through the defense. Phillip Fairfax sent away a hard shot on goal in the 16th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. With an all-out effort, Morpeth's Owen Harris threw himself towards the right post 21 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Phillip Fairfax, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Olov Wenerdahl in the 24th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Dom Woods prevented the ball from getting in the gole. In the 25th minute of the match Whitley Bay AFC got a corner. Morpeth's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Lawrence Illingworth ran over to the corner to take the kick. The corner went over the outstretched arms of Morpeth's goalie and right to Ermanno Di Biagio. He fired away a shot at goal, but the shot had too much spin, and it went just outside the goal. Morpeth's manager breathed a sigh of relief on the sidelines as his team had managed to escape an almost certain goal. The audience thought a goal was coming when Perry Wybrow got free with Owen Harris in the 29th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. The supporters of Morpeth booed when Whitley Bay AFC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 29 match minutes in a wonderful position. Stevie Duff didn't get a good kick on the ball. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 31st minute of the game. One of Whitley Bay AFC:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Morpeth:s goal. When Whitley Bay AFC's Olov Wenerdahl in the 37th minute got a chance for a shot 37th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Morpeth's goalie prevented a goal. In the 39th minute of the match George Fry sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Owen Harris skillfully saved the ball. Olov Wenerdahl recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 40th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. 41 minutes into the match, Morpeth's goal looked a bit too open when Lawrence Illingworth came free, but Dom Woods reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Olov Wenerdahl kicked well hit freekick during the 43rd minute of the match. Phillip Fairfax received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Owen Harris came out and tried to block the shot, but Phillip Fairfax slotted it home off the left post making it 2-0 in the 45th minute. When the referee blew for the end of the half the home team players were clearly happier, as they went in to the break leading 2-0.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Olov Wenerdahl to make the kick off. In the 52nd match minute, Whitley Bay AFC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Stevie Duff to maneuver through the defense. In the 53rd minute of the match Danny Christensen shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Owen Harris showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. In the 54th minute Phillip Fairfax shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Owen Harris saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Dom Woods didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Olov Wenerdahl went, in the 59th minute, to the upper right corner, 2-1 was the resulting score. In the 63rdth minute of the game Olov Wenerdahl who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Morpeth's Dom Woods was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. After 67 played minutes Whitley Bay AFC got a freekick which was hit by Olov Wenerdahl. In the 70th minute, Shawn Sheringham hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Whitley Bay AFC's Olov Wenerdahl came free and shot a quick shot against goal 71 minutes in the game, fortunately Dom Woods had problems saving as it came toward the left post. In the 75th minute, Olov Wenerdahl got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. Owen Harris took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Phillip Fairfax, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 87 minutes into the match, Whitley Bay AFC's goal looked a bit too open when Perry Wybrow came free, but Owen Harris reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 90 minutes into the game, Whitley Bay AFC's Olov Wenerdahl nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Dom Woods made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 2-2. Morpeth succeeded in salvaging a draw, even though Whitley Bay AFC had controlled the match.