Josh King rose highest to earn Morpeth Town three precious points in stoppage time, heading home the winner in a 2-1 victory at Bamber Bridge in the Pitching In NPL Premier Division.
The Highwaymen trailed when Lucas Weaver netted his ninth goal of an impressive loan spell for Bamber, but Town roared back with Rhys Evans equalising before the break prior to King’s decisive late moment.
Both sides started fairly evenly, with Morpeth settling into their task effectively. But Weaver would have the first effort on target, his 12th minute low shot comfortably pushed wide of the target by Highwaymen keeper Dan Langley.
But Bamber would get the opener just seven minutes later, a smart ball down the left channel from Danny Edwards releasing Weaver in behind. The forward needed no second invitation, dinking a fine finish over the on-rushing Langley.
It wasn’t a case of stinging Morpeth into life as they’d settled relatively well in their third away game in 14 days.
Nic Bollado rued an effort narrowly off target on 25 minutes, latching on to a through ball only to drill a shot narrowly past the far post.
The Highwaymen would get their equaliser, though, a moment later but from a slightly more unusual goal source.
After Billy Marshall was bundled over in the box on 26 minutes, Luke James sought to score from the spot. His effort was saved low down to his left by Tommy Davis, but Evans was on hand to nod in the rebound and score his second goal in three games.
Not the most prolific, the right-back will be enjoying his rich vein of scoring form.
Simon Grand nodded a 31st minute header wide of the far post as the hosts threatened sporadically without forming consistent pressure.
Level at the break, both sides could sense a winner was in the offing, if only they could find a way through.
Bollado fired straight at the keeper on 48 minutes, but the drama would unfold in the final 20 minutes.
Michael Potts fired just wide from range on 70 minutes but a flurry of activity arrived five minutes later.
Firstly, substitute Jack Foalle put the ball in the back of the net but, after the ball had deflected his way off a defender, the offside flag went up to deny him.
Then Langley tipped over a deflected effort that was looping in before Foalle raced down the other end of the pitch almost immediately to ‘score’ once again, only to see the offside flag raised once more.
Foalle fired a rising 80th minute drive into the side-netting as the game became stretched and Bamber Bridge failed to close the huge gap in behind their defensive line.
They’d pay for that in stoppage time, when another Foalle surge saw him fouled by the centre-back 25 yards out.
Will Dowling played the resulting free-kick into the area and King rose highest to head home and send the visiting faithful into joyous celebrations.
It earned a third successive win on the road and extended a run of one loss in 10 league games ahead of Tuesday night’s home clash with Mickleover at Craik Park (7.45pm).
BAMBER BRIDGE: Davis, Wallbank (Cullen 79’), Brockbank, Dodd, Adubofour, Churchman (Kenyon 87’), Edwards (Hey 70’), Potts, Grand, Weaver, Baxter.
SUBS: Mohamed, Wilson
MORPETH TOWN: Langley, Evans, Robson, Dowling, Henderson (c), King, Marshall (Buddle 90’), Barlow, James, Bollado (Foalle 59’), Gibson-Booth.
SUBS: Chater
ATT: 404
