Morpeth Town ended with 10 men and on the wrong end of a 3-1 score-line as they fell to a rare defeat at AFC Mansfield on Tuesday night.

Ellis Wall gave the home side the initiative with a 39th minute effort, but a much-improved start to the second half saw Morpeth level from the spot through Joe Walton’s 66th minute penalty. However, parity lasted all of two minutes as Olly Fearon put the home side ahead once more, with the same player scoring his own spot-kick in stoppage time.

The first chance of note was a glorious one for the Highwaymen on 10 minutes, when Sean Taylor laid the ball off for David Carson. The midfielder lashed one towards the top corner, but keeper Jason White tipped his effort on to the bar to deny Morpeth an opening goal.

White was again at the forefront for the Bulls in the 22nd minute, this time denying Tom Potter after the winger had cut inside and sent a shot on target.

The winger continued his duel with keeper White in the 35th minute. However, his shot was pushed clear by a flying stop from the AFC Mansfield stopper. The keeper’s efforts would be rewarded courtesy of Wall’s goal, the first of the game and a touch against the run of play. It placed the Highwaymen in a difficult situation as they trailed; something of a rarity this season.

They went in search of an equalising goal before the interval, with Taylor’s goal-bound effort being blocked when it seemed destined for the back of the net, but they couldn’t find a way through as the half-time whistle ended those hopes.

The visitors were on the front foot from the off in the second period, with Wayne Phillips seeing an effort from just outside the six-yard box deflected over the top after Taylor’s original shot was blocked in the 54th minute.

Morpeth would find an equaliser and be level for just two minutes as both sides traded goals in the 66th and 68th minutes. Walton netted a spot-kick, after Taylor was barged over, but Fearon converted a long throw as he flicked it on to find the back of the net.

The Highwaymen couldn’t find a way back into it, with Phillips – on his 100th club appearance – being sent off in stoppage time. There was still time for Fearon to score a third for the home side, from the penalty spot, after he was pulled down by Michael Turner. It was a result which condemned the visitors to a first defeat in eight games, following seven consecutive victories.

Morpeth Town are next in action when they welcome Stamford to Craik Park on Saturday (3pm) in another Evo-Stik East clash.

 

AFC MANSFIELD: White; Marsden, Dudley, Buxton, Lawrence, Annable, Dear, Ghaichem, Fearon, Broadhead, Wall (Dawes 72).

SUBS NOT USED: Froggatt, Lindley, Mohamed, Crosby.

GOALS: Wall (39), Fearon (68, 90 PEN)

MORPETH TOWN: Pickering; Forster (Moan 79), Turner, Phillips (c), Petrache (Danny Carson 73), J.Henderson, Taylor, Fry (Wilson 67), Walton, Dav Carson, Potter.

SUBS NOT USED: Graydon, Mohammed.

GOALS: Walton (66 PEN)

ATT: 85