The Highwaymen extended their unbeaten run as they emerged from a battling encounter with Pontefract Collieries with a point. Vaughan Redford had fired the hosts ahead, David Carson equalized before Liam Henderson saw a straight red card.

There was only the one change from the starting XI that beat Lincoln United with Wayne Phillips coming in for the unavailable Ben Sayer.

The hosts started on the front foot and thought they had been awarded a penalty when Eli Hey went to ground in the area but the referee adjudged the striker to have fouled Dan Lowson.

The Highwaymen didn’t heed their early warning and fell behind on 7 minutes. Vaughan Redford was afforded his own postcode to turn in the area between the midfield and defence before rifling an effort past Lowson that gave the ‘keeper no chance.

Morpeth responded to falling behind, a feat that hasn’t been a common occurrence this season with a normal watertight backline. Wayne Phillips put his effort narrowly over the bar on 10 minutes.

Michael Turner almost grabbed the equaliser on the 14th minute when he met Tom Potter’s deep freekick. His leader was looped back across goal that had Ryan Musselwhite scrambling across his line to tip the effort away.

The period of intense pressure paid off when David Carson pulled the Highwaymen level. Liam Henderson grabbed the assist as his build up play allowed Carson the opportunity to lift the ball over Musselwhite. Desperate attempts by Jack Greenhough to hack the ball clear were in vain.

The hosts should have regained the lead but a moment of hesitation from Michael Dunn allowed Michael Turner the opportunity to block his effort after Dunn had rounded Lowson.

On 24 minutes, Liam Henderson was shown a straight red card by the referee following consultation with his assistant after an off-the-ball incident.

Morpeth responded to this setback by reshaping their formation and looking to play more on the counter attack with Sean Taylor leading the line.

Lowson was called into action on the stroke of half time when he flew across his line to push away a stinging effort from Connor Smythe.

The second half failed to live up to expectations of the first half. Morepth were resolute in their defending with Chris Reid throwing his body on the line to deny Redford his second goal.

Jamie Williams came closest to grabbing a winner as he flicked a looping header narrowly wide of the far post as the Colls began to throw everything at the Highwaymen in search of a winner.

David Carson had the best chance of the second half for the visitors but his effort lacked power and he curled it straight into the arms of Musselwhite.

Town may look back on this point at the end of the season and consider it a point gained following a resolute performance.

Next up for Morpeth is their first ever FA Trophy game on Saturday as they entertain Brighouse Town at Craik Park with a traditional 3pm kick off.

 

PONTEFRACT COLLIERS: Musselwhite, Greenhough, Smythe, Picton, Williams (c), Clarke, Cromark, Seed (Jeffs, 52), Hey, Redford (Williams, 79), Dunn.

SUBS NOT USED: Varley, Whitehouse, Hill

GOALS: Redford 7’

 

MORPETH TOWN: Lowson; Forster, Turner, Phillips (c) (Fry, 70), Danny Carson, Reid (Petrache, 62), Taylor (Burnicle, 66), Hodgson, Potter, Henderson, David Carson.
SUBS NOT USED: Graydon, Tsapalos
GOALS: David Carson 15’

 

Attendance: 257

MAN OF THE MATCH: Michael Turner