TYNEDALE Ladies’ defence of the Northumberland Shield Cup ended as they lost at home to Morpeth III.

Depleted due to illness and work commitments, Tyne went down to a young visiting side to be eliminated from the competition they won last year, when Gemma Stephenson’s last minute winner saw them defeat Alnwick II 3-2.

Morpeth took the lead when a pin point pass cut through the Tynedale defence, and was greatly finished by the forward.

Tynedale were back on level terms soon after as junior Annie Anderson made a great run down the left wing, and linked well with Sophie Mitchell, before connecting with the return pass and finishing off the move.

Morpeth were back ahead but Tyne pegged them back almost immediately again, Mitchell sweeping the ball into the back of the net with a sublime finish.

The game continued to swing from end-to-end as Morpeth gained the upper hand for the third time in the first half via a rebound from a penalty corner strike, but there was still time for Anderson to get her second as she slotted the ball into the back of the net for 3-3.

The half time break allowed both teams to draw breath before a similarly intense second half, Morpeth finally finding a way past player of the match goalkeeper Nicky Baguley after four saves in just a few seconds.

Tynedale again had chances to level, but a fifth Morpeth goal near the end killed off any hopes of remaining in the cup.