Picture: George Davidson

Joe Walton’s goal of the season contender stole the show as Morpeth Town claimed a sensational 3-2 victory against Marske United.

Adam Wheatley headed the opener on the stroke of half-time before Liam Henderson’s wonder-strike on 54 minutes.

Keith Graydon’s rasping drive put Town ahead on 79 minutes before Craig Gott restored parity with a brilliant 40-yard effort.

Goal of the season contenders weren’t done there as Walton sent Craik Park wild with a fantastic goal four minutes from time.

Jordan Fry and Curtis Coppen were back in the starting line-up following a break on Saturday as The Highwaymen work their way through a mammoth five-game stint in just 15 days.

Despite the prospect of a sluggish start with such a schedule, it turned out to be quite the opposite as the hosts began with intent and an impressive vibrancy.

That lead to Fry so nearly breaking the deadlock in the 11th minute as he controlled Graydon’s long range drive before slotting past goalkeeper Robert Dean. Fortunately for the latter, Josh Rowbotham was on hand to clear off the line.

Both sides were quick to counter, and that approach saw Stephen Forster move up from right-back before lashing a shot narrowly over the top in the 22nd minute.

For all the pressing, there was still no breakthrough. That looked to have changed four minutes later when Liam Henderson was able to turn and fire goalwards, but he dragged his shot just wide of the post.

The visitors were just as keen to gain the early advantage, with an impressively quick counter-attacking style causing problems. This was never truer than in the 31st minute when Danny Earl created a yard of space 25 yards out and fired just over the top.

Three minutes later and Morpeth should have been celebrating the first goal of the game, but Walton put his effort over the bar when clean through inside the area.

Chances were falling the way of Walton and he spurned another on 42 minutes. Excellent link-up play between Henderson and Chris Reid played Walton into a shooting position inside the area, but he put it well over.

With the game meandering toward half-time, Marske struck a decisive 45th minute goal through the head of Wheatley.

The big centre-half rose highest in the six-yard box to nod home and provide the away side with the half-time advantage.

This merely re-energised Town in the second half and they gained parity just nine minutes in. Henderson was the man to provide the crucial goal, sending a dipping, curling shot from the right over keeper Robert Dean and into the far corner.

It was a brilliant goal and one that put the wind back into the Morpeth sails. Galvanized, they pushed forward with Ben Sayer unlucky with a vicious 58th minute drive that flew inches past the top corner.

Marske were still creating chances of their own, with Earl watching on as his 67th minute strike fell the wrong side of the post.

Sayer then went close in the 74th minute, his strike being cleared by Dean’s legs after great work to cut the ball back from the by-line by Henderson.

Seconds later and Reid’s header from point-blank range was somehow kept out by Dean.

Then came a 79th minute moment of magic from Graydon as the club captain smashed a rocket of a shot into the back of the net, from the edge of the area, to spark scenes of joy at Craik Park.

That feelgood factor didn’t last long as the visitors scored an equally brilliant goal 60 seconds later through a 40-yard dipping drive from Gott which left the home support stunned.

But the moment of glory was reserved for Walton as he pulled the ball out of the sky with one touch, swivelled and volleyed a beautiful strike in the back of the net to the utter jubilation of the home crowd.

It was enough to seal a vital win against a fellow title challenger. Three points, and what a way to get them!

Town are next in action on Saturday when they make the journey to Penrith (3pm). 

MORPETH TOWN: Dryden; Forster, Coppen, Carson, Reid; Sayer, Graydon, Taylor; Walton, Fry, Henderson.

SUBS:

SUBS NOT USED: Davison, Carr, Orrell, Turner.

GOALS: Henderson (54), Graydon (79), Walton (84)

MARSKE UNITED: Dean, Rowbotham, O’Sullivan, Butterworth, Carling, Wheatley, Bulmer, Gott, Earl, Round, Hawkes.

SUBS:

SUBS NOT USED: Bell, Brockbank, Clark.

GOALS: Wheatley (45), Gott (80)

ATT: 278

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ND1ThNTi-QQ