Morpeth Ladies 2nd XI v Medics 1st XI

Result: 0-2
MOM: Carrie MacDonald

Team: Janice Rose (gk), Beth Hendy, Carrie MacDonald (c), Emma Dixon,Katie Wardle, Marian Simpson, Chloe Hall, Alex Grime, Emma Gibson, Leolie Telford-Cooke, Lucy Smalley and Rhian Watkins.

Morpeth started their home campaign keen to maintain their winning start but on this occasion the canny team of doctors were just able to deny them.

The match started in balmy conditions and this unusual calm weather for Longhirst seemed to unsettle the home side.  They started very shakily, panicking in possession and making rash tackles.   Packed with experience, the Medics took full advantage and laid siege to the goal.  Within ten minutes they were in front with a crisp cross being punched home clinically before anyone could react.

The visitors continue to push forward with their pacy wingers proving to be a particular handful.  Slowly but surely though, Morpeth started to find their feet and looked increasingly more resolute in defence although they were yet to put the opposition’s goalkeeper under any major threat.

The half time whistle gave a chance to regroup with a tactical switch which involved pushing the sweeper forward in behind the centre halves and adopt a more attacking formation. 

The change almost instantly paid off with a good move down the right culminating in a shot from Smalley that she blasted over the bar.  Confidence started to build with MacDonald able to use her long reach to good effect in turning defence into attack.  Wardle and Simpson worked tirelessly in the middle whilst Hall (making a promising debut) and Gibson started to get more of the ball and drive forward from deep.

The home defence almost became redundant as wave after wave of attacks failed to bring the equaliser.  Both Telford-Cooke and Watkins went close but the keeper was quick to react and went down quickly to parry the ball to safety.  She then did well to deny Smalley when put clean through by Grime. 

It seemed only a matter of time for Morpeth to score but despite sticking to their solid game plan and creating chances through patient build up, the backboard was not hit.  Although disappointed not to take anything from the match, its clear that this blended team of experience and youth will prove a match for any side in the league.

Morpeth Ladies 2nd XI v Newcastle Ladies 2nd XI

Result: 2-0
Scorer: Emma Dixon
MOM: Emma Dixon

Team: Janice Rose (gk), Beth Hendy, Carrie MacDonald (c), Emma Dixon, Ailsa MacGregor, Emma Reeve,Katie Wardle,Fiona Grant, Alex Grimes, Emma Gibson, Leolie Telford-Cooke Lucy Smalley and Marian Simpson.

Morpeth started their league campaign facing a team that have become somewhat of a boogie team in recent years.  Always keenly contested and with rarely more than one goal in it, the 2nd of Newcastle and Morpeth respectively always seem to fight out a tight game.

Without any warm up friendly and with a couple of new players to integrate, Morpeth looking a little disjointed early on but as the match progressed them looked more confident and their play looked more assured.

The early pressure was mainly from the home side as Morpeth gradually found their feet.   Younger Dixon on her debut, MacDonald and Hendy marked and tackled well at the back and look like forming a promising defensive line for the season. Gibson and Telford-Cooke was the outlet for Morpeth on the left side and several promising moves came to nothing down that side of the pitch.  Simpson and Wardle slowly asserted their quality in central midfield and the visitors started to boss the game.

A pacy break down the right via the elder Dixon (now Smalley) came across the pitch and found Telford-Cooke bursting into the circle on the left, her first shot was well saved but with considerable composure, she lifted the rebound over the keeper to put Morpeth ahead.

Newcastle’s pace down the right continued to mean that Morpeth were never comfortable in the lead but they were creating the more clear cut opportunities.  The home team’s defence were resolute and held out until well into the second half.

A lovely team move saw the ball passed on by virtually every player, down the right via Simpson, through the midfield through Wardle and out to the right wing and Smalley, her powerful cross to the top of the circle was meet perfectly by younger Dixon who capped an impressive debut by cracking a first time belter into the back of the net before the keeper had time to set herself.

With the game lost, Newcastle to their credit continued to push forward ad looked like they would get a consolation when their winger broke through the defence.  However, Rose came crashing out and knocked the ball to safety to seal a solid opening victory for Morpeth.

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Sat 27th March Morpeth 1sts v North Shields 1sts

It was league champions against fellow promoted North Shields in the final game of the season. An exhibition match of sorts, but one that neither side wanted to lose. This was about closing the gap from the visitor’s point of view between them and Morpeth.