Morpeth Town claimed a 4-3 win at Consett as their pre-season continued with a third victory in four outings.

Goals from Sean Reid, Ben Harmison, Ben Sayer and Jack Foalle sent the Highwaymen on their way, despite Consett goals for ex-Town midfielder Luke Carr, Andrei Ardelean and Darren Holden.

Although entertaining on the pitch, the weather did its level best to dampen spirits on a bitterly cold, rain swept afternoon in Consett.

Despite this, Morpeth raced into an early advantage, Reid striding out of midfield to smash a second-minute shot into the roof of the net. The home side struggled to gain a foothold as Shabz Mohammed stole in behind the hosting back-line two minutes later. But his cut-back couldn’t be converted by Harmison, who shot at the keeper from close range.

Consett were a threat going forward, Holden forcing a smart save from our trialist keeper before Luke Carr found the back of the net on 31 minutes.

In an end-to-end first half, Morpeth should have taken the lead once again just three minutes after conceding but Reid’s header at the far post slid wide with the goal at his mercy and under significant pressure. He would bear down on goal soon after, but his shot was straight at Consett keeper Kyle Hayes.

Town would find a way through on 39 minutes through Harmison, who netted his first for the club from close range after Sayer’s free-kick to the back post was headed back across goal by Jeff Henderson.

That lead would last all of 60 seconds as the hosts levelled for a second time, Ardelean striking low. His effort forced its way through the trialist keeper and there was nothing to separate the two sides at the interval.

Far from settling down in the second half, both sides looked keen to add to their respective tallies, with Town starting things off in the 52^nd minute courtesy of Sayer’s neat finish. The midfielder danced his way into the area, playing a one-two in the process, before slotting between the legs of the Consett keeper from close to the by-line.

Leading 3-2, Morpeth looked comfortable but Consett continued to probe and press for a third equalising goal, which duly arrived in the 67^th minute as Holden lashed a low shot across goal from the left and into the far corner.

But Town haven’t amassed 12 goals in three pre-season outings for no reason and responded with their fourth of the afternoon through Foalle’s goal of the day on 76 minutes. The striker cut inside from the right side before unleashing a perfectly placed curling effort in off the far post.

It was enough to claim the victory on the day as Town registered their 16^th goal of pre-season and their third win in four.

Town are next in action when they travel to Dunston UTS on Tuesday night (7.30pm).

CONSETT: Hayes; Russell, Trialist, Slocombe, Wilkinson (c), Allen, Alshabeeb, Smith, Ardelean, Carr, Holden.

SUBS: Johnson, Brown, Male, McGeoch, Sloan, Gray, Metz.

GOALS: Carr (31), Ardelean (40), Holden (67)

MORPETH TOWN: Trialist; Walton, Turner, Sayer, Thackray, J.Henderson, Foalle, Mohammed, Harmison, S.Reid, Phillips (c).

SUBS: L.Henderson, Forster, Giles.

GOALS: S.Reid (2), Harmison (39), Sayer (52), Foalle (76)

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