Late header wins relegation threatened Morpeth Town a vital point
Nic Bollado’s last-gasp header handed Morpeth a relegation lifeline.
Ten-man Town were trailing 1-0 at Stocksbridge Park Steels on a day that appeared to have disaster written all over it following a catalogue of misfortunes.
The Highwaymen’s bus driver was injured in the morning and they had to travel down in cars. They had a kit clash and had to make a change; found themselves down to 10 men after just 15 minutes when skipper Jeff Henderson saw red – and at times were left frustrated by the officials as a string of contentious decisions forced gaffer Craig Lynch to bite his lip for fear of a fine or ban.
“As a manager you look to see why you are bottom of the league and I always look at myself first and you think what’s happening? Are the lads on it?” said Lynch, who described the game as ‘crazy’.
“If we get relegated – which I don’t think we will because we’ve got a great dressing room – them lads in there gave everything. What they go through week to week, nobody knows. That’s why I’ll always have time for every single one of them and today epitomises what kind of lads they are like.”
Henderson pulled down a striker and was sent to the dressing room then Paul Iggulden headed drop-zone rivals Steels ahead from close range soon after.
“Jeff got sent off but what a star he’s been for seven years at the club – it happens, it was knock-on effect of errors, and we’ve got away with a little one with the 1-1, but if any team looked like they were going to go on and win it, it was us,” continued Lynch.
“We switched the formation, we got players on, Callum Bone’s played the second half with one leg, he’s ended up getting cramp. We’ve brought Billy Gordon on, who can’t train, and it was an unbelievable performance in the second half.
“What a header by Nic – great ball by Millsy, who played four positions today, and we showed in the second half what we’re about.
“The first 20 minutes we showed on the other side and unfortunately that’s where we are in the league.”
Town are just three points from safety and have a hugely important clash against Hyde United at Craik Park on Saturday with the visitors just above them in the table.