Jack Redshaw’s strike 11 minutes from time condemned Morpeth Town to a 2-1 defeat at Hyde United in the Pitching In NPL Premier Division.
Harry Bunn gave the hosts the lead on 17 minutes but Vinnie Steels thought he had rescued a point for his side on 74 minutes, only for Jack Redshaw to restore his side’s lead four minutes later.
Morpeth made one enforced change with Chris Reid suspended for five yellow cards, being replaced by Ryan Wombwell.
The game started with the hosts in the ascendency, Dan Lowson denying Redshaw superbly on eight minutes, but Morpeth were settling into things when Andrew Johnson got in behind on 10 minutes, only for the Hyde keeper to deny him.
But the home side, getting stronger as the game went on, took the lead on 17 minutes through Bunn, the midfielder’s effort taking a deflection on its way past Lowson and into the back of the net.
Morpeth kept plugging away and should have levelled on 23 minutes but Johnson’s effort was tipped superbly on to the post before Ryan Donaldson wildly lashed over the top from close range.
Johnson shot through a forest of legs but the effort was comfortably gathered by Waller as Town sought a way back into the contest.
But they should have been 2-0 down on 36 minutes when Lewis Alessandra was denied by Lowson, Redshaw had a follow-up shot cleared off the line and then Shaquille Jones-Griffiths’ shot hit the bar.
Riding their luck a touch in the closing stages of the half, the Highwaymen would have been pleased to have the chance to regroup at half-time.
They came out on the front foot in the second half and were seeing plenty of the ball without creating too many clear-cut opportunities.
In fact, it was Alessandra who could have doubled the home side’s advantage on 66 minutes but his shot, on the counter, was just wide of the target.
The visitors introduced Steels off the bench and he had a superb impact on the game, scoring on 74 minutes. The winger poked the ball past keeper Waller to restore parity.
Liam Noble had a shot pushed wide moments later as the Highwaymen threatened to turn the game on its head.
But Redshaw would net on 78 minutes, drilling into the bottom corner to give his side the lead for the second time.
Although the Highwaymen pressed and probed, they couldn’t find a second equaliser as the day ended in defeat amid a late scramble in the Hyde box.
Morpeth are next in action when they host Atherton Collieries at Craik Park on Saturday.
HYDE UNITED: Waller, Ditchfield, Doherty, Spooner, Amdo, Roscoe (C), Bunn (Badjie 90+2’), Jones-Griffiths, Alessandra, Redshaw, Makoli (Fearnley 77’).
SUBS: Turner, Bell, Hatch.
MORPETH TOWN: Lowson, Robson, Wombwell, Jenkins, Henderson (C), Turner, Foalle (Steels 62’), Noble, Hodgson, Donaldson (Barlow 66’), Johnson.
SUBS: Griggs, Boyd.
ATT: 456