Morpeth lost their season long unbeaten home record on Saturday as Cleethorpes Town took all 3 points back down the coast to Lincolnshire.

There were 5 changes to the team that beat AFC Mansfield with Stephen Forster, Michael Turner, Joe Walton and Liam Henderson making way for Danny Carson, Iulian Petrache, Sam Hodgson and Jack Foalle.

Iulian Petrache and Ben Sayer grabbed the goals for the Highwaymen with the Owls getting their goals through a brace by Jon Oglesby, Paul Walker and Scott Vernon.

Morpeth started well and could have been ahead within the first two minutes as David Carson released Sean Taylor but his strike lacked any real power but was deflected behind for a corner.

The early dominance of Morpeth was rewarded as Taylor swung in a corner and Iulian Petrache was afforded the freedom of the 6yd box to power a header down into the ground and past Dylan Parkin.

The visitors could have been level with their first real chance of the game when Broady Robertson raced clear and with only Dan Lowson to beat, Robertson stabbed the ball wide when he should have scored.

That miss wasn’t to be crucial as they levelled a minute later. Jon Oglesby who had been earlier cautioned curled in a superb effort from the corner of the box that gave Lowson no chance.

The goal breathed a new lease of life into the visitors as they came more into the game but were unable to further test Lowson before the interval.

On 36 minutes, Morpeth should have regained the lead. Carson let fly from the edge of the box but his effort was deflected and it prompted a fine reflex save from Parkin. The rebound came to Jack Foalle but he was unable to score.

There was to be an action packed start to the second half as the visitors took the lead on 49 minutes. Oglesby got clear before striding forward and sliding the ball through the legs of Lowson.

The Highwaymen struck back almost immediately as Ben Sayer who had arrived as a substitute passed the ball home from close to the penalty spot after good play by Tom Potter, Taylor and Carson.

Parity didn’t last long with the visitors going back ahead with the aid of the woodwork. Paul Walker was unmarked in the 6yd box and headed home.

Scott Vernon added the fourth goal for the Owls as he capitalised on a stray pass and raced clear before rounding Lowson and coolly slotted home.

As Morpeth pressed to try and maintain their unbeaten league run at home, the visitors were posing a threat on the counter attack and looked likely to add a fifth.

Alex Flett came closest to doing so when he rifled a free-kick from 20yds that thundered off the post before being smuggled clear by the Morepth defence.

The final chance of the game feel to Taylor who had a free kick himself after Liam Henderson had been chopped down but the free kick was straight into the wall and with that the chance to rescue a point was lost.

Morpeth play their final game before Christmas when they travel down to Brighouse next Saturday.

MORPETH TOWN: Lowson, Danny Carson (Forster, 17), Reid (Sayer, 47), Phillips (c), Petrache, J. Henderson, Taylor, Hodgson (L. Henderson, 64), Foalle, David Carson, Potter.

SUBS NOT USED: Walton, Turner,

GOALS: Petrache (8), Sayer (52).

CLEETHORPES TOWN: Parkin, Lowe, Topliss, Dickens, Donald, Walker, Richardson, Flett (c), Vernon, Robertson, Oglesby (Oglesby, 68).

SUBS NOT USED: Disley, Batty, North, Bloomer.

GOALS: Oglesby (24, 49), Walker (56), Vernon (61).

MAN OF THE MATCH: Wayne Phillips

ATTENDANCE: 510