So how would Hereford deal with the favourites tag on this massive day for the club, and how would Morpeth set themselves up against them to try and nullify their advances. Well after less than two minutes it looked bleak for the Northumberland side as in Hereford's first attack Rob Purdie picked up the ball, drove towards goal and hit a wonderful long range effort into the bottom corner of the net, sending 20,000 Bulls fans crazy.
It was the ideal start for them and the worst start for Morpeth, and you did fear for them early on as the Edgar Street side looked like they were going to run away with it. They came so close to a second after just four minutes but thankfully for Peth keeper Karl Dryden saved the one on one effort from Sirdic Grant. Pabio Haysham then saw a close range header well saved by Morpeth keeper Dryden after 13 mins, this after a decent cross from Peth had caused alarm inside the Hereford area.
Hereford still looked far more dangerous though and Dryden had to be alert again to keep out a close range volley from Joe Tumelty before Morpeth managed to attack themselves and saw a Sean Taylor effort palmed away by Hereford keeper Martin Horsell. It had been a breathless start to this final.
And in the 24th minute it should of been two for Hereford as after sloppy play from Peth, Grant nipped in to pick up the ball and his effort thumped against the bar and over, it was a massive let off for Morpeth, and moments later they had an even bigger let off as Hereford broke down the left and saw the ball squared to Haysham who surely would score, but no he somehow fluffed his lines and the chance went away.
On the half hour mark Ben Sayer struck a decent effort just over the Hereford bar but it had been a rare opportunity for the Northumbrians who had been totally outplayed thus far, but they were only a goal down still, and with just over ten minutes to go till half time they managed to find a leveller when a corner to far post saw 45 year old centre half Chris Swailes bundle home with his chest and breathe life into Morpeth.
And with seven minutes of the half remaining they really should of taken the lead as a ball across to Michael Chilton saw the striker somehow squeeze his effort wide of the far post, it was certainly a head in hands moment for both players and supporters. Hereford had one last chance in the half with two minutes of it remaining as again they broke down the left, this time through Haysham, but the strikers effort sailed just wide of the near post. It had been a cracking first half and Peth had fought back well after Hereford's blistering start.
Half Time Hereford 1 Morpeth Town 1
So the question was how would the second half pan out? Would Hereford regain control of the tie or would Morpeth go on and spring a surprise by completing the turnaround. Well what was to follow was truly amazing and could not have been predicted. The tone for the second half was set when barely a minute into the half Luke Carr volleyed Morpeth into a 2-1 lead and really put the cats amongest the pigeons.
Hereford looked stunned, as did most of the crowd returning to their seats after a half time pie and missed the moment, and looked to try and respond to this set back with Haysham, who hit an effort straight at Dryden although he was flagged offside anyway. And then amazingly Morpeth stretched their lead further just before the hour mark when Taylor was slipped in before he slotted home to send one small corner of Wembley wild with delight.
It really had been an amazing turnaround from the first half hour when Hereford had looked likely to add to their one goal lead, and perhaps should of been further ahead by that point. However they were now chasing the game, two goals behind, and had a chance to threaten the Morpeth goal when they won a free kick in a decent area outside the box, but Haysham could only curl the set piece miles over the Morpeth bar, as the game entered the final twenty minutes.
If anything it was Morpeth who were looking more threatening now and they had two chances to seal the win, firstly when Steven Anderson got in but hit straight at keeper Horsell, when the better option was to square it to Taylor, and then secondly when Taylor found himself in again but saw keeper Horsell get down well to save his effort across goal.
Time was now running out for Hereford and with six minutes of the ninety left substitute Mustapha Bundu curled one wide of the far post from outside the box and then five minutes later the same man saw his header from a corner headed off the line by a Morpeth defender. Then deep into stoppage time the game was most certainly sealed when Morpeth substitute Shaun Bell saw his deflected effort go beyond Horsell and into the net for an incredible 4-1 scoreline, and saw the Northumberians record a memorable victory.
Full Time Hereford 1 Morpeth Town 4
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