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Morpeth Town secured a first win in 11 games with an excellent display as they beat third in the table Gainsborough Trinity at Craik Park.

An entertaining clash between two sides at opposite ends of the table saw the Highwaymen triumph thanks to two goals in 10 first half minutes from Andrew Johnson and Ben Ramsey.

It was no more than Morpeth deserved as they got after their in-form visitors from the first minute. Within seven minutes of kick-off, Johnson had fired well over the top and Ramsey had fired one wide from the angle and another effort was deflected wide as Town started with real impetus.

Johnson then pulled a shot on the stretch from the edge of the box wide on 10 minutes, highlighting Town’s dominance and also their profligacy.

However, they would get the goal their start deserved on 17 minutes through Johnson’s first goal of the season. After spending months out with a serious shoulder injury, it was a sweet moment for the attacker as he forced his way through a hesitant Gainsborough defence before slotting confidently into the back of the net.

Connor Pani, impressive sitting in front of the back four, sent an audacious dipping volley just wide on 19 minutes and Sam Fishburn came within a whisker of getting on the end of a ball forward before keeper Mat Yates on 21 minutes as Town sought a crucial second goal.

Gainsborough on the other hand were looking neat and tidy on the ball and agile on the front foot but couldn’t find a decisive way through a well-organised back line led by skipper Jeff Henderson.

Their only real chance of note in the first half came on 23 minutes when Dylan Cogil strode out of defence before firing a bouncing drive from distance that keeper Dan Lowson did well to shovel to safety.

But it would be Morpeth who would strike next with a brilliant second goal on 27 minutes. Ramsey was the man to deliver, latching on to a Johnson cross on the left side of the area before finding half a yard of space to rifle a shot into the far top corner.

A superb strike, it was no more than Morpeth deserved for a first 30 minutes in which they pressed, broke at pace and caused all sorts of problems.

The second half, though, would be more about Gainsborough attempting to get back into the game, seeing plenty of the ball but failing to break through.

On 54 minutes, Jay Glover drilled a cross-cum-shot that was cleared from inside the six-yard box. Then came their best chance on 61 minutes when the ever-lively Curtis Durose was denied by Lowson after bursting clear before, from the resulting corner, Lowson somehow kept out a goalbound effort from close range.

Jack Foalle flashed a low cross across goal on 64 minutes but neither side could trouble the scoresheet again as Morpeth earned a deserved win.

The Highwaymen are next in action, weather depending, when they travel to Newcastle Benfield on Tuesday (7.30pm) for a Senior Cup quarter-final clash.

MORPETH TOWN: Lowson, King, Reid (Robson 35’), R.Donaldson, Henderson, Turner, Foalle, Pani, Fishburn, Ramsey (Thomson 70’), Johnson (Pearson 82’).

SUBS: Millington, Johnstone

GAINSBOROUGH TRINITY: Yates, Hornshaw (Bramwell 70’), West, Conway (Keto 54’), Cann, Cogil, Durose, Glover, C.Donaldson, Waldock (Rice 46’), Preston.

SUBS: Dyce

ATT: 428