Morpeth Town scored twice in a matter of moments to turn a 3-1 deficit into a 3-3 final result in their first pre-season outing at Birtley Town, writes Ross Jackson.

Birtley had taken a single goal advantage into the interval, Kelvin Thear dispatching a low driven effort from a corner that was cut-back to the edge of the box on 37 minutes.

The Highwaymen equalised just after the break, through substitute Nic Bollado’s smart finish, the forward rounding the keeper to find the back of the net.

But the visitors, making their first tentative steps into pre-season, would fall behind once more as a deflected Scott Heslop free-kick beat Morpeth stopper Dan Langley just before the hour-mark.

Hosting Birtley then added to their advantage on 66 minutes when a trialist slotted home into an empty net after what looked like a foul on Langley in the build-up.

The Highwaymen reduced the deficit on 78 minutes, Jack Foalle cutting in off the flank before bending a superb shot into the far corner.

He then doubled his tally, and got his side level, moments later, tapping in more routinely from six yards to ensure a draw.

In reality, the outcome was immaterial but what this game did do was lay down a marker for Morpeth, playing against a side weeks down the road in terms of their preparation for a Northern League season that starts late July.

It was never going to be a comfortable afternoon for players seeking to brush off the rust of a summer spent dormant.

So it proved, with two new starting line-ups in each half being given a thorough test by a lively Birtley outfit.

All of the new signings got a run out but it was most pleasing to see Liam Miller take his place at left-back, making his first appearance in months since picking up a knee injury in the early stages of the previous campaign. The defender had made a promising start to life at Craik Park and will be hoping to pick up where he left off.

Foalle demonstrated his prowess in front of goal, and possibly should have had a hat-trick when denied when one-on-one with the Birtley keeper; his performance was a glimpse of what’s to come.

A worthy side note was the amount of Academy lads getting minutes in this one, with Sam Davison leading the line and unlucky not to have got on the scoresheet; the width of a post denying him.

Of those young players, Matty Griggs and Matt Boyd stood out and looked comfortable under pressure from a decent Northern League Division One outfit.

There will be big challenges to come, with a competitive pre-season fixture list created by manager Craig Lynch including clashes with Dunston UTS, Ashington, and National League North Darlington.

What really matters is having a talented squad primed and set for mid-August when league points and FA Cup progression will be on the line.

MORPETH (FIRST HALF): Langley, Evans, Steels, Wombwell, Henderson, Buddle, James, Hickey, Davison, Barlow, Griggs.

MORPETH (SECOND HALF): Langley, Robson, Miller, Griggs, Baston, Foalle, Dowling, Bollado, King, Boyd, Williams.