MORPETH TOWN (Craik Park)

FA CUP 1st QUALIFYING ROUND, MORPETH TOWN 4-2 COLWYN BAY, ATTENDANCE 220

The road to Wembley continued with a journey to the North East and a visit to Craik Park, the home of 2016 FA Vase winners, Morpeth Town. For the first time in their 122 year history they were playing a team from the Principality as Colwyn Bay made the trek up from North Wales.

Founded in 1894, Morpeth celebrated their centenary by moving to a new ground on the outskirts of the town, Craik Park, which was named after the Father (W) and Son (R) Craik who served as respective secretaries between 1920 and 1985. In the centenary year the club won the Northern Alliance and with that promotion to the Northern League for the first time. The club have remained members since, winning the Division Two title in 1995.

The biggest day in the clubs history came in May this year when Morpeth beat heavily fancied Hereford FC in the FA Vase Final at Wembley. The club also equalled their highest ever league position (4th) in the Northern League to complete a memorable 2015/16.

Attention today switched to the FA Cup and a home tie with Colwyn Bay, who play in the Division above Morpeth, the Northern Premier League Division One North.

The furthest Morpeth have ever gone in the FA Cup was the 4th Qualifying Round in 1998, where they lost 1-0 to Burton Albion (which incidentally, fact fans, was Nigel Clough's first cup game as a manager).

This game was difficult to call pre-match as Colwyn Bay, despite playing in a higher league, are in a downward trajectory having suffered back-to-back relegations, whilst, in my humble opinion, the Northern League is arguably the strongest step 5 league in the pyramid.

Colwyn Bay were fastest out of the block and had a couple of speculative early chances before Morpeth worked themselves into the game, their number nine Luke Carr causing The Seagull's back four plenty of problems.

The first goal arrived after 37 minutes when a corner was headed home by Michael Chiltern (pictured above right).

Morpeth's second goal arrived shortly after the restart when Paul Robinson's header came back off the post and rebounded into the net off Colwyn Bay 'keeper Scott Williams for an unfortunate own goal (48).

Morpeth were creating, and missing, plenty of chances but Colwyn Bay grabbed a lifeline on 61 minutes when substitute Adam Whitlock fired home.

Colwyn Bay had a good spell of possession and there was a feeling an equaliser could be on the cards but, sadly for them, two goals in three minutes killed the tie. On 68 minutes Chris Reid made it 3-1 and in the 71st minute Paul Robinson scored to make it 4-1. It could have been worse for Colwyn Bay, with the linesman's flag preventing further damage.

Colwyn Bay hit the bar late on before Gary Burnett scored deep into stoppage time, to make it 4-2, scant consolation for the fans who had travelled up from North Wales.

This was no robbery by The Highwaymen and there can be absolutely no complaints with the result. A thoroughly deserved victory for Morpeth, who have been handed a trip to local rivals Blyth Spartans in the next round. That promises to be a tasty encounter indeed!