Morpeth Town made it two wins on the spin as Sam Hodgson fired them to victory over Atherton Collieries in the Pitching In NPL Premier Division.

The 2-1 success was hard-fought as the Highwaymen were forced to come from behind after Enock Lusiama gave the visitors a first half advantage. This lasted all of two minutes before Hodgson netted his first and then scored a second midway through the second period.

Town brought Michael Turner back into defence after a two-game suspension, replacing the injured and also suspended Chris Reid.

They started fairly timidly in truth, looking compact and untroubled defensively but unable to build up attacking momentum going forward.

With Colls deep in the relegation mire, they were eager to bring themselves within striking distance of safety with victory and made a solid enough start for an away side.

But Morpeth would go closest in the opening 20 minutes, with Will Dowling, the young midfielder, hitting low but being denied by keeper Tom Donaghy.

On 22 minutes, Morpeth could have opened the scoring but were again foiled by Donaghy. After intricate link-up play involving Fenton John, Hodgson, and Dowling, Nic Bollado bore down on goal but saw his shot saved by the goalkeeper.

An even first half meandered towards stalemate at the break until a somewhat contentious penalty award for Atherton on 38 minutes. Lusiama earned it, falling to the floor after being nudged in the back before dusting himself down to confidently slot past keeper Dan Lowson.

That lead didn’t last long as Town found parity through Hodgson. A low driven free-kick from the left flank by Dowling found the forward and he did the rest, striking superbly and instinctively into the top corner to level matters.

Jack Foalle then headed inches wide in stoppage time as the game rightly hit half-time all-square.

The second half progressed in similar fashion but Morpeth were more threatening going forward, as demonstrated by John’s narrow miss on 57 minutes as he toe-ended a shot just past the far post.

They’d have to wait for the decisive moment until the 69th minute, when Hodgson netted his 18th goal of an incredibly productive campaign.

The South Shields loanee got across his marker to head into the far corner and give his side an advantage they wouldn’t relinquish.

Dan Lowson had to get down smartly to deny the visitors on 79 minutes, before Hodgson was denied his hat-trick by the outstretched glove of Donaghy.

There was still time for Jack Evans to spurn a glorious chance to equalise for Atherton late on, the defender smashing a header over the top with the goal at his mercy.

In the dying seconds Dowling was dismissed for a second yellow card but it wouldn’t alter the outcome as Town earned a second home win in a row.

They’re next in action when they welcome Lancaster City to Craik Park on Saturday (3pm).

MORPETH TOWN: Lowson, Wombwell, Turner, Dowling, Henderson (c), King, Foalle, Barlow, Hodgson, John, Bollado (Johnson 74’).

SUBS: Donaldson, Steels, Boyd, Robson.

ATHERTON COLLIERIES: Donaghy, Partington, Thompson, Evans, Ali, Mfuni (Caine 77’), Rydel, Putnam, Mansell (c), Scanlon, Lusiama.

ATT: 294