Although settling for a draw, Morpeth Town will be much the more impressed with their evening’s work as they played out a 2-2 draw with Sunderland Under-23s.

Liam Henderson gave Morpeth a deserved lead on the half-hour mark before doubling his tally with a 48th minute goal. Lee Connelly halved the deficit for the visitors before Owen Gamble levelled matters on 61 minutes.

Morpeth started brightly enough, creating decent half-chances, with Adam Burnicle’s wild early effort sailing over the top at the near post. Then the forward flicked a headed effort past the far post as Town began with an impressive confidence.

That yielded a goal on 31 minutes, when, following an error in midfield, Henderson was able to saunter through the heart of the defence and slot home the opener. The Highwaymen should have added to that lead four minutes later but once Taylor had skipped past the keeper his cut-back to Joe Walton was cleared.

The home side were dominating proceedings in the first half with Sunderland, but for Connor Shields’ 41st minute shot straight at Dan Lowson, struggling to impose themselves on the contest.

With Burnicle rampaging down the left and David Carson once again putting in an all-action display in the middle of the park, Morpeth were good value for their half-time lead.

Clearly keen for more, the Highwaymen started strongly once again and doubled their advantage three minutes in, Henderson the beneficiary as he got a toe-end on a fizzing Sean Taylor ball into the box from the right.

That two-goal advantage would last a matter of seconds though as Sunderland hit back through Connelly, the midfielder scoring despite keeper Dan Lowson getting something on the shot.

Despite being second best for long periods of the game, the visitors levelled on 61 minutes courtesy of Gamble’s volley which skipped up off the turf and looped over Lowson and into the net.

Henderson sent a header narrowly over the top as the hosts tried to find a winner, but the game tailed off as Morpeth put down a marker ahead of the new campaign.

Town are next in action on Saturday when they travel to Killingworth for a 2.30pm kick-off in their final pre-season outing of the season.

 

MORPETH TOWN: Lowson; Forster, Reid, Henderson, McDonald; Phillips, David Carson, Taylor; Walton, Henderson, Burnicle.

SUBS: Graydon, Turner, Trialist A, Trialist B, Trialist C.

GOALS: Henderson (31, 48)

SUNDERLAND AFC UNDER-23s: Patterson, Hunter, Kokolo, Bale, Storey, Young, Connelly, Gamble, Shields, Hackett (capt), Diamond.

SUBS: Taylor, Johnson, Bainbridge, Brotherton.

GOALS: Connelly (49), Gamble (61)

ATT: 385