FC United’s play-off hopes were all but extinguished with a 1-0 defeat to Morpeth Town on the Reds’ first ever visit to Craik Park.
FC United’s play-off hopes were all but extinguished with a 1-0 defeat to Morpeth Town on the Reds’ first ever visit to Craik Park.
The home side took the lead in the 11th minute and FC United couldn’t find their way back into the match. The result leaves Neil Reynolds’ side seven points off the play-offs with just three games to go.
Town had a sight of goal inside the first minute when Andrew Johnson teed himself up but volleyed the ball high over Dan Lavercombe’s crossbar. Callum Morris was next to try his luck but he headed the ball wide.
On 11 minutes The Highwaymen took the lead. A cross from the left was met by Jack Foalle who saw his shot saved by Lavercombe, the ball finding its way to Johnson who curled it in the far corner of the net.
The Reds struggled to get any fluency going in attack, Charlie Ennis firing a snap shot straight at Dan Lowson in what was the only shot on goal for FC in the first half. At the other end, Lavercombe was called into action saving from Foalle yet again.
As the half wore on, Morpeth continued to miss chances, skipper Jeff Henderson and Liam Noble both missing the target. These misses gave Reynolds and his team hope going into the halftime break.
The second half opened with FC on the attack and they were unlucky not to be level within a minute of the restart. Adam Dodd crossed to Regan Linney who saw his header tipped over the bar by Lowson.
From that point FC did see more of the ball than the first half, but the chances continued for the home side, who looked strong on the break. Foalle again had a chance but he fired at Lavercombe and on 57 minutes, he beat the offside trap and rounded Lavercombe only for Curtis Jones to get back and do well to smother the attack.
As the game entered its final act, Luke Griffiths fired straight at Lowson and Foalle yet again had a chance when trying to chip the ball over Lavercombe but the FC keeper easily plucked the ball out of the sky.
With four minutes to go, it seemed that FC had been given a lifeline when Ewan Bange was sent clear and rounded the keeper, only to see his goal bound shot go out for a corner.
Whilst still mathematically possible, it looks likely that another season in the Pitching In Northern Premier League awaits the Reds. However, who knows what may happen in the last three games of the season?
Website man of the match: Dan Lavercombe. Solid as usual and produce saves that kept FC United in the game.
Report by Steven Wood