Morpeth Town made a winning start to pre-season as they impressed during a 6-3 win over Whitley Bay at Hillheads.

Town shot out of the blocks and led on 10 minutes, Ben Sayer slotting home to reward a strong start. A one-goal lead was doubled nine minutes later when David Carson slotted home to score a richly deserved goal. Liam Henderson registered from the spot on 22 minutes before a Lewis Walton own goal made it four on 24 minutes. Bay reduced the arrears on 29 minutes through Stephen Forster’s own goal but Sayer scored his second a moment after. Jack Foalie made it 5-2 10 minutes into the second half prior to Trialist (B) scoring for Bay to make it 5-3 on 65 minutes. John Woodhead then rounded off the scoring with 15 minutes to go to cap off an entertaining night.

The Highwaymen looked assured in possession and dominated proceedings early on, taking the lead on 10 minutes through Sayer. The midfielder had the easy task of rolling his shot into the bottom corner after a Woodhead cut-back from the left wing found him in acres of space on the penalty spot.

The hosts responded and were inches away from equalising six minutes later, but Michael Turner’s clearance, when intercepting a through ball, clipped the post on the way behind.

In a bizarre first 30 minutes of the game, Whitley Bay would find themselves 5-1 down, as Carson slotted through the legs of Andrew Gibson in the Bay goal, following a clever knockdown from Liam Henderson, to make it 2-0 before the latter scored from the spot on 22 minutes. Lewis Walton deflected the ball into his own net two minutes after that, but Forster copied the trick to reduce the deficit. That gap was restored on the half-hour mark when Sayer lashed a shot through a forest of legs to make it 5-1.

With a raft of changes at the interval, including the introduction of new signing Sam Hodgson, the game stuttered a touch after half-time. However, Whitley would settle the quicker and netted their second of the match on 55 minutes, Foalie showing class and composure to stride clear of the Town defence before clipping a shot past keeper Dan Lowson.

With their tails up, the hosts scored once again with Trialist (B) stooping to head home from 12 yards in a packed penalty area. Foalie then blazed over a glorious chance to make it 5-4 before, with 15 minutes to go, Woodhead registered a goal to reward his efforts on the night.

Despite a string of late Whitley Bay chances, the home side couldn’t find another goal on the night as The Highwaymen started pre-season with a high-scoring victory.

Morpeth are next in action when they travel to Gateshead on Wednesday night (7.30pm). Tickets are available on the gate; £10 adults, £5 concessions (over 60s), £2 under-16s and under-12s are free when accompanied by an adult.

WHITLEY BAY: Gibson, Redford, L.Walton, Trialist (A), Anderson, Trialist (B), Ravenhill, Salmon, Ramsey, Foalie, Martin.

SUBS: Trialist (C), Allan, Hassan, Trialist (D), Bell, Trialist (E), Trialist (F).

GOALS: Forster OG (27), Foalie (55), Trialist (B) (65)

MORPETH TOWN: Lowson; Forster, J.Henderson, Petrache, Turner; Phillips, Davey Carson, Sayer; Walton, L.Henderson, Woodhead.

SUBS: Graydon, Taylor, McDonald, Proctor, Reid, Hodgson, Fry.

GOALS: Sayer (10, 30), Carson (19), Henderson pen (22), L.Walton OG (24), Woodhead (75)

ATT: 170