A superb display saw Morpeth Town win 3-0 at home to Workington in the Pitching In NPL Premier Division.

An Andrew Johnson brace and a first goal for loanee Sam Hodgson secured a deserved three-point haul for the Highwaymen in front of a home crowd that lapped up a scintillating performance.

Morpeth made one change to the starting line-up that secured an opening day point at Basford United on Saturday, with captain Jeff Henderson returning to the heart of the defence in place of Michael Turner.

An entertaining contest, with two industrious sides looking to create at every opportunity, began with a ninth minute effort from Hodgson, who drilled a shot wide after Vinnie Steels, who once again shone on the flank, sent him away.

Danny Barlow then shot off-target a minute later before Workington, who looked mobile and quick on the ball, had their first real chance on 20 minutes. It was one they should have scored too, as Kofi Moore found himself in far too much space on the edge of the box. But he rushed his effort and sent it wide.

Town were finding it tricky to get to grips with Moore, who once again dropped into a pocket of space on the edge of the box three minutes later. But on this occasion, although he got his shot on target, it was tame and straight at Highwaymen keeper Dan Lowson.

A lesson to be learned for Workington, perhaps, is to score while you’re on top, something Morpeth found out the hard way last season. It was Town who would punish their opponent on this occasion, scoring seconds after a spell of partial dominance from the Reds.

It came from a corner and some pretty tepid defending as Liam Noble’s delivery in from the right bounced a few times in the box before Johnson’s effort took a deflection on its way in.

This put the wind in Morpeth sails and they continued to a look a threat as a front three, with energetic assistance from midfield, played with an impressive verve and hunger for the ball.

Hodgson’s industrious running and cut-back couldn’t find a target on the break moments later before Steels out-stripped his man for pace down the right, hit the byline but his cut-back was cleared too. A similar pattern of play unfolded just before half-time with Steels having a field day down that right hand side.

Heading towards half-time with a slender lead, and a visiting side looking more than capable of getting back on terms, Morpeth could have done with a second goal. This duly arrived in stoppage time from a familiar source.

Johnson, registering his third goal of the campaign after a game and a half, latched on to indecision in the defensive box, getting in behind Steven Rigg who, despite attempting to foul the forward, couldn’t stop the Morpeth man from slotting home.

To be fair to the visitors, they kept plugging away in the second half, with David Symington, who showed plenty of threat in the first half that waned as the second period went on, forcing an outstanding save from Lowson as the keeper rushed out to greet him on 50 minutes.

Town knew a third would settle any lingering doubts and were unfortunate not to get it on 55 minutes when captain Conor Tinnion deflected a cross towards his own goal before Noble fired a shot just wide of the far post seconds later.

On the hour-mark, Symington thumped the bar with a rising effort from distance, a feat repeated by striker Scott Allison, and Will Jenkins shot wide for the Highwaymen, with Barlow blazing a free kick over the top, as both sides sensed the importance of the third goal of the contest.

Hodgson, though, would be the man to deliver it on 71 minutes, the South Shields loanee letting the ball run across his body before firing a dipping strike that keeper James Atkinson, by now dealing with surging rain, failed to deal with. Although he got a hand on it, the deflection saw it drop behind him and into the back of the net.

A late Workington header that was comfortably pushed over by Lowson was never going to change the trajectory of the game, with Rigg’s second yellow card for a foul on Hodgson, resulting in a red card, symbolic of a disappointing evening for the visitors.

But for Morpeth, that was as good as they’ve produced in some time as a vibrant display got the rewards it deserved.

Town are next in action when they host Matlock Town on Saturday at Craik Park. Tickets available on the gate on the day (cash and card accepted).

MORPETH TOWN: Lowson, Robson, Miller, Jenkins (Donaldson 73’), Henderson (c), Reid, Steels (Wombwell 85’), Noble, Hodgson, Barlow, Johnson (Turner 90’).

SUBS: French, Dowling.

WORKINGTON: Atkinson, Roxburgh, Bell (Keelan 46’), Rigg, Wallbank, Carroll (Hubbold 46’), Symington, McCaragher, Allison, Moore (Reilly 68’), Tinnion (c).

SUBS: Casson, Hammell.

ATT: 436