Newcastle Benfield’s Paul Brayson showed his class as he netted a first half hat-trick which ended Morpeth Town’s unbeaten home league record.

Benfield got off to a flying start, taking a 15th minute lead through Brayson before the forward doubled his tally 12 minutes later. He completed his hat-trick in routine fashion in the 43rd minute as The Highwaymen suffered back-to-back defeats for the first time this season. Stephen Elliott registered his first for the club in the 90th minute on a frustrating evening for the side from Craik Park.

Despite a decent start, Morpeth found themselves trailing through Brayson’s first of the game. The free-scoring striker netted his 37th goal of the campaign after being played in by former Town favourite Luke Carr. The former, clean through, needed no second invitation to slot the ball between the legs of Karl Dryden and give his side the early initiative.

Joe Walton attempted to wrestle that back in the 23rd minute but his shot across goal was comfortably smothered by Benfield stopper Andrew Grainger. Town would be made to pay for that on 27 minutes as Brayson struck again. The former Newcastle United forward, although standing in an offside position, ran clean through as the ball into him took a deflection off a Morpeth man. With plenty of space, he took it round Dryden before easily finding the net.

The Highwaymen were struggling to find their fluency, with Chris McDonald’s bouncing effort in the 36th minute a rare opportunity for the home side, despite getting into decent attacking positions.

But they would concede once more as Carr proved instrumental, sliding a perfectly weighted through ball for Brayson, who had time and space to go past the keeper and complete a routine hat-trick just before half-time.

Morpeth had plenty of the ball in the second half but couldn’t muster clear-cut chances, with Sean Taylor’s 49th minute dipping free-kick, forcing Grainger to tip over, the best chance in the early stages of the second period.

Liam Henderson then went close on 70 minutes, his reaction strike, after a ball into the area, flying past the post from close range. Substitute Mark Davison saw a shot on the turn rise over the top from the edge of the box as Morpeth showed plenty of effort, endeavour and desire but just couldn’t find a goal.

Taylor went close again with five minutes to go but his stinging volley, following direct wing play from Walton on the right, was pushed clear by Grainger at his near post. Town would eventually get the consolation they deserved in the 90th minute when Elliott turned and lashed home an unstoppable drive from the edge of the area. But it wasn’t enough as they fell to a rare home defeat.

Morpeth are next in action when they travel to Bishop Auckland on Saturday (3pm). For details of a supporters coach, look at our Twitter and Facebook pages.

MORPETH TOWN: Dryden; Forster (Davison 45), Coppen, Danny Carson, McDonald (Elliott 73); Sayer (capt) Phillips, David Carson (Graydon 45); Walton, Henderson, Taylor.

SUBS NOT USED: Fry, Turner.

GOALS: Elliott (90)

NEWCASTLE BENFIELD: Grainger; Evans (McCarthy 71), Dummett (Polock 45), Nisbet, Turnbull (capt), Mellish, Carr, Slaughter, Brayson (Orrell 80), Forbes, Hailes.

SUBS NOT USED: Nimmins, Scott.

GOALS: Brayson (15, 27, 43)

ATT: 161