Bailey Conway and Dylan Cogill were restored to the starting line up for the trek up the A1 to Craik Park. Selected instead of Bobby Johnson and Sisa Tuntulwana, who both made the bench. George Hornshaw again made the sixteen, in place of Jack McMenemy. The Blues won an early corner that dropped kindly for Ashley Jackson in the opening couple of minutes. His volleyed attempt hitting the target, but in truth, it was comfortable for Dan Langley to gather at low to his left.

The Highwaymen were well drilled, hardworking. And restricted the Blues to few clear cut opportunities, though Howe did see a snapshot well blocked by home skipper Jeff Henderson. Luke James tested Dylan Wharton. Trinity’s number one saving well with his feet as Morpeth enjoyed some sustained pressure. Recycling the ball well, and putting the Blues under concerted pressure.

Will Lancaster looked long for the run of Howe in behind, but Henderson seemed to be in control as he shepherded the ball behind. Dec not giving up on the seemingly lost cause. Dispossessing the Morpeth man and cutting inside. His strike on goal, blocked by Josh King across on the cover. Wharton was sweeping up well. Claiming a few difficult crosses as balls were swung into his box amidst gale force winds, that buffered the trees in the surrounding forest. Looking for a quick release on one such claim, ‘Peth winger, Jack Foalie gave Wharton a sly dig as he retreated. The ‘keeper needing treatment from Jonathan Whitehorne, the Trinity physio.

While the Referee consulted his Assistant, he opted to brandish a yellow card for the home number seven. All said and done, from the moment of impact, to resumption, play had been stopped no more than two minutes. An Ash Jackson throw taken short, led to an entry into the Morpeth box. But the ball didn’t run kindly for the Blues and Lewis Butroid couldn’t keep his effort down as he looked to clip a left footed effort towards the far post.

When more than three minutes into first half stoppage time, Foalie bought a cheap freekick in his own half. Skipper, Henderson launched the ball down the Morpeth right and Nic Bollado chased the ball away from goal, he got something on the ball to divert the ball goalwards, but his momentum took him into Wharton. And the forwards tumble and home bench appeals saw the man in the middle point to the spot. Bollado stepping up to score from the spot, four minutes into added time.

Half Time: Morpeth Town 1 Gainsborough Trinity 0

Going in a goal to the good gave the Highwaymen something to hold on to. Something to defend. And that they would go on to do, efficiently. Allowed to kill the game, without the assertiveness of the man in the middle; the visiting Blues were unable to find a rhythm. Things could have been different, but for an outstanding save from Dan Langley, Helliwell sent one towards Langley’s top right hand corner, the goalkeeper throwing up a hand, to help the ball over the top for a corner. That save ultimately earning his side the maximum points.

Looking to hit Trinity on the counter-attack, Bollado broke the offside trap, and looked to cut the ball back to Luke James, but a combination of Wharton and defensive bodies, the Blues managed to slam the door shut on that attack. Jack Foalie, with his direct running, continued to look a threat. A couple of speedy breaks keeping the Gainsborough back line honest, as the Blues failed to find the final ball.

A dissatisfied Wilcox rolled the dice, as he made a quadruple substitution. Simpson, Conway, Butroid and Clarke all making way, as Tuntulwana, Johnson, Stacey and Durose came on in search of a reaction. Tuntulwana immediately involved sending in a stream of long throws into the Morpeth box. One flowing move from front to back saw Jordan Helliwell and Fraser Preston link up, to get the Holy Blues up the park, Helliwell riding a couple of lunging challenges, but his ball back to the supporting Preston wasn’t quite there, and with that the game ebbed the other way.

A mis-directed header saw Will Dowdling first to the loose ball. Uncharacteristically ahead of Helliwell. Keen to try his luck from range. Cogill was out bravely to block. Lancaster heading the resultant corner clear. Foalie lofting a ball back in, that landed on the roof of Wharton’s net. Cogill looked to have exposed a gap in the centre of the Morpeth defence, when he skimmed a ball through the centre, looking to set Howe free through the middle. But, Langley was smartly off his line to clear the danger.

Trinity huffed and puffed, but it just broke down at the final third. The Highwaymen defending resolutely. And as the visitors pushed for an equaliser, Morpeth looked to put the boot in. Foalie and Bollado guilty of wasting opportunities to put the game beyond doubt, in the closing stages. All good things must come to an end. Unfortunately, the Holy Blues unbeaten run came to an end at Craik Park, but the character of Wilcox’s men will have them back up and at it, ready for two tough challenges over Christmas and New Year. Two sides in the play-off places lay in wait. Firstly, Guiseley (2nd) visit the Kal Group Stadium on Boxing Day before the local derby, away at Worksop (3rd) awaits on New Year’s Day.

The Teams

Morpeth Town: Dan Langley, Rhys Evans, Josh Robson, William Dowdling, Josh King, Jeff Henderson, Jack Foalie, Jordan Hickey, Lewis James, Nic Bollado. Subs not used: Ryan Chater, Nathan Buddle, Matthew Griggs, Jerome Greaves.

Gainsborough Trinity: Dylan Wharton, Aaron Simpson (Sisa Tuntulwana 62), Ashley Jacksom, Bailey Conway (Bobby Johnson 62), Will Lancaster, Dylan Cogill, Lewis Butroid (Joe Stacey 62), Jordan Helliwell (George Hornshaw 84), Javelle Clarke (Curtis Durose 62), Declan Howe, Fraser Preston.

Referee: Kieran Downey
Attendance: 282

Match Report by Rob Hughes (@AATM_Media)
Photos by George Davidson