By Garry Clarke
Morpeth Town 3 – 3 Warrington Town
WARRINGTON Rylands had to settle for a share of the points, and a creditable 10th place finish in their debut NPL Premier Division campaign, losing a three goal half time lead at Morpeth Town.
The home side, known by their supporters as the Highwaymen, overturned the deficit with an equaliser deep into stoppage time from their goalkeeper!
Dan Lowson ventured forward as Morpeth launched a last desperate attempt to salvage a point. Liam Noble drove a free kick low into a packed Rylands penalty area where Lowson swung his foot at the ball guiding it into net in the 95th minute.
Lowson’s unlikely strike capped off a remarkable comeback which had started in the 62nd minute when a ball into the Rylands area found Connor Thompson, un challenged he smashed the ball home.
It had started so well for Warrington Rylands who showed no ill effects from the long coach journey by racing into a three goal lead within the opening half hour.
Rylands hit the front in the 6th minute when Joe Adams dribbled his way past several defenders in the Morpeth box to set up Mo Touray who tapped home from close range.
Scott Duxbury doubled the lead in the 25th minute, heading home unchallenged in the six yard box having been found by a Jordan Mustoe free kick. Mustoe was the provider again five minutes later landing a corner on Colin Oppong’s head, the Salford City loanee powered his header into the far corner.
Rylands were dominating the first half with Osebi Abadaki curling a shot inches wide, Matt Sargent heading against a post and Touray drawing a fine save from Lowson.
For all of Rylands dominance they had to be wary of their hosts catching them on the break and the first half ended with goalkeeper Luke Pilling pulling off a brilliant double save.
Referee Thomas Wilson awarded Morpeth a penalty when a Ben Ramsey header hit James Neild on the arm from close range. Pilling dived to his right to keep out Thompson’s spot kick, recovered quickly and thre himself to his left to turn Ramsey’s follow up shot away.
The second half started with Pilling making several good saves as did Lowson at the opposite end before the game changing event occurred in the 58th minute.
With Rylands on the attack, referee Wilson red carded Dana Amaral, a first half replacement for the injured Dean Furman, after an off the ball incident left Noble on the deck.
Four minutes later Thompson scored Morpeth’s first goal and the home side started to gain the upper hand as panic started to spread through the blue shirted ranks.
Two minutes into stoppage time Josh King headed in Morpeth’s second goal, and a minute later Matty Cornish had a shot cleared off the line by a desperate Rylands defender as the visitors tried to hold on for the victory…….but it was not to be!
RYLANDS – Pilling, Neild, Mustoe, Duxbury, Egerton, Furman (Amaral), Adams, Sargent, Oppong (Hindle), Touray (Mantack), Abadaki. Subs not used Hives, Wright.
