Morpeth Town tasted defeat on Tuesday evening as Dunston ran out deserved winners in the Highwaymen’s penultimate pre-season friendly.

Kris Thackray had the first shot of the evening but his strike from 40 yards was harmless enough as it fizzed over the bar without troubling Karl Dryden in the Dunston goal.

The hosts responded and on 10 minutes Dan Lowther hit a free kick over the wall but it was straight at the ‘keeper.

The hosts took the lead 3 minutes later when the left back and captain Dan Halliday had time and space to pick his spot from just inside the penalty area to drive an effort across the ‘keeper and nestled into the bottom corner.

The Highwaymen drew level on 28 minutes when a barnstorming run from Stephen Forster down the right saw him get to the touchline before squaring the ball across goal and it was deflected into his own net by Andrew Grant Soulsby.

Michael McKeown had a free kick just before the interval but whilst he got it over the wall it was easily claimed by Dryden.

Just after the hour mark and Town should have taken the lead. Liam Henderson was pushed in the back as he looked to control the ball in the box and the referee pointed to the spot. Henderson took the penalty himself but it was at a comfortable height for Dryden and he made the save.

That miss was to prove crucial as Dunston retook the lead on 68 minutes through Cedwyn Scott. The striker broke clear and rounded the trialist in goal for Morpeth before slotting home into an empty net.

The scoring was completed on 76 minutes and it was a sublime finish though Dan Lowther. He curled a delightful free kick over the ball and it smashed into the back of the net via the underside of the crossbar to seal the victory.

Morpeth are next in action on Saturday 10th August when they travel to Marske for the their final pre-season friendly.

DUNSTON: Dryden, Marrs, Halliday (c), Lowther, Grant – Soulsby, Scott, Da Silva, Pearson, Heslop, Page, Brooks.

SUBS: Capewell, Trialist, Fitzpatrick, Elliott, Scott.

GOALS: Halliday 13’, Scott 68’, Lowther 76’.

MORPETH: Trialist, Forster, Turner, Phillips (c), Thackray, J. Henderson, Taylor, McKeown, L. Henderson, Mohammed, Walton.

SUBS: Sayer, Foalle, Potter, Harmison, S. Reid.

GOALS: OG 28’.