Morpeth Town AFC v. Witton Albion(Emirates FA Challenge Cup Second Qualifying Round)

Witton’s Emirates FA Challenge Cup campaign takes them to the North East once again when they travel to Morpeth Town in the Second Qualifying Round on Saturday.

Ben Harrison’s team go into the game off the back of an unbeaten run of five games and they will be looking to extend that further.

The Highwaymen as they are known, progressed to this stage with a narrow 2-1 success over Pontefract Collieries in the previous round and will provide a difficult challenge for the Albion.

Their league form hasn’t been what they would’ve hoped, as they sit second bottom in the Northern Premier League Premier Division with one win and a draw from their six games to date.

Their latest game saw them draw 1-1 at home to neighbours Hebburn Town in midweek.

The two clubs have never met in a cup competition but have met three times in league games, the last one in 2022, Witton winning by the odd goal in five with goals from James Lawrie, Will Jones and Joe Mwasile.

They have made the very long trip twice before, with both teams winning one game each.

In 2020, Morpeth won 3-2 and then, the two teams met again in 2021 with Albion winning courtesy of a brace from Callum Saunders.

The Highwaymen’s central defender and captain Jeff Henderson, played in all three previous meetings and is the only player on Morpeth’s team still playing at the club.

Witton go into the game in a confident mood but will have to continue playing to their recent standard if they are to prevail.

Kick off at Craik Park is 3pm.

MORPETH TOWN AFC,
CRAIK PARK,
MORPETH,
NORTHUMBERLAND,
NE61 2YX.

Directions: From King Street Roundabout, follow the A556 for 5.0 miles. At Tabley Interchange, take the 2nd exit and stay on A556 for 4.2 miles. Keep right for 1.1 miles. Merge onto M56 and follow for 5.4 miles. Keep right at the fork to stay on M56, follow signs for A5103/City Centre/M60 N & W/M62 W/M61 and continue for 0.8 miles. Continue onto Princess Parkway/A5103. After 0.7 miles, merge onto M60 via the slip road to Ring Road (W & N)/Liverpool/Bolton/Leeds/M61/M62 and continue for 15.0 miles. Keep right to continue on M62 and follow for 31.3 miles. Keep right at the fork to stay on M62 and follow for 5.8 miles. At junction 29, take the M1 North exit to M621/Leeds and continue for 0.9 miles. Merge onto M1 and follow for 0.7 miles. Keep left at the fork to stay on M1, follow signs for Leeds (East) for 10.5 miles. Merge onto A1(M) and follow for 50.9 miles. Keep right at the fork to stay on A1(M) and follow for 30.7 miles. Keep left at the fork to stay on A1(M) for 0.1 miles. Continue onto A1 and follow for 20.7 miles. Take the A197 exit towards Morpeth and continue for 0.2 miles. Continue onto A197 and follow for 1.1 miles. At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit and stay on A197 - go through 1 roundabout. After 0.4 miles, turn left onto B6524 and follow for 0.8 miles. Turn right and continue 0.3 mile, turn right and continue for 269 ft. Turn right and continue for 262 ft to Craik Park. (Total Distance - 187.4 miles).

Parking: There is a Car Park next to the stadium with plenty of spaces.

Admission is by way of Card or cash payments at the turnstiles.

Admission Prices: Adults £12, Concessions £8, Under 16’s: £4.

Matchday Programme: On sale at the turnstiles - Cost: £2.

Social Club: The Social Club is behind the main stand. Please note: Alcohol is permitted inside the stadium but MUST be in a plastic beaker.

Refreshments: There is a Tea Bar near to the Social Club. There is also a Marquee which is used for live music events.

Toilet Facilities: There are toilet facilities including wheelchair accessible facilities within the main clubhouse building.

Additional Information: Should the game be drawn, the replay is scheduled to be played on TUESDAY, 16th SEPTEMBER at the U Lock It Stadium with a 7.45pm kick off.

There will be match commentary available from 2.45pm on https://radio-witton.mixlr.com with Iain Wright and Alex Trainor.

Match updates will appear on X @WittonAlbion and will also be available on here as and when they become available.

Tough task for the lads today and an important call for Ben picking the team and shape for this one!

We seem to have hit better form and changed shape doing so, but good luck to whoever plays. UTA

Witton team news & latest score updates will appear here as and when they become available.

Team news: Witton make two changes to the starting line-up that beat Bootle in the Isuzu FA Challenge Trophy last week. James Baillie & Freddy Garbutt start in place of Adam Bott & Joe Duckworth who drop down to the bench. Player Manager Ben Harrison comes into the squad but Harry Brazel & Charlie Peters are not involved.

Witton team:

Cameron Terry, James Baillie, Billy Jones, Jacob Hamman, Geffry Ebhote, Joel Bembo-Leta, James Lawrie, Joe Edwards, Tom Hoyle, Freddy Garbutt, Aaron Fleming.

Subs: Josh Langley, Tom Farrall, Adam Bott, Joe Duckworth, Max Harrop, Remi Raymond, Ben Harrison.

Latest Score from Craik Park:

Emirates FA Challenge Cup - Second Qualifying Round:

Morpeth Town AFC 0 Witton Albion 0.

10 minutes played.

25 minutes played - Still goalless.

GOAL

Latest Score from Craik Park:

Emirates FA Challenge Cup - Second Qualifying Round:

Morpeth Town AFC 1 Witton Albion 0.

Luke James gives Morpeth the lead on 39 minutes.

GOALLLLL

Latest Score from Craik Park:

Emirates FA Challenge Cup - Second Qualifying Round:

Morpeth Town AFC 1 Witton Albion 1.

Freddy Garbutt equalises for the Albion on 45+2 minutes - his seventh goal of the season heading home from Aaron Fleming’s corner.

Half Time Score from Craik Park:

Emirates FA Challenge Cup - Second Qualifying Round:

Morpeth Town AFC 1 Witton Albion 1.

Penalty to Morpeth Town.

Morpeth Town striker Luke James is brought down by Albion keeper Cameron Terry.

GOAL

Latest Score from Craik Park:

Emirates FA Challenge Cup - Second Qualifying Round:

Morpeth Town AFC 2 Witton Albion 1.

Luke James beats Albion keeper Cameron Terry from the spot on 50 minutes.

Witton Substitution:

James Lawrie replaced by Max Harrop on 62 minutes.

Latest Score from Craik Park:

Emirates FA Challenge Cup - Second Qualifying Round:

Morpeth Town AFC 2 Witton Albion 1.

70 minutes played.

Witton Substitutions:

Aaron Fleming replaced by Joe Duckworth on 70 minutes.

Jacob Hamman replaced by Remi Raymond on 70 minutes.

Witton Substitution:

Billy Jones replaced by Ben Harrison on 86 minutes.

Yellow card:

Morpeth Town’s Leon Gibson-Booth on 88 minutes.

Full Time Score from Craik Park:

Emirates FA Challenge Cup - Second Qualifying Round:

Morpeth Town AFC 2 Witton Albion 1.

Witton’s FA Cup adventure is over for another year.

I’m hearing that the referee sent Max Harrop off after the final whistle.

The players wanted to come over to thank the supporters and the referee wouldn’t let them.

He sent Max Harrop off for protesting.

That is true he would not let the players come over to the fans