Morpeth Town endured a difficult evening as they lost 4-1 at league leaders Radcliffe in the Pitching In NPL Premier Division.

Radcliffe hit the front through Matt Sargent’s early opener before Olly Thornley doubled the lead in first half stoppage time. Lois Maynard added a third midway through the second half to complete the win, with substitute Vinnie Steels scoring a consolation late on that was topped by Luca Navarro’s 90th minute goal.

Morpeth did fairly well in the opening stages but found themselves a goal down in the 13th minute when Sargent struck. Keeper Dan Lowson had made a decent stop in the build-up but Sargent was on hand to fire home and give the league leaders the initial advantage.

Lowson was outstanding on numerous occasions in the first half, including on 33 minutes when denying Jordan Hulme’s header.

Hulme hit the inside of the post on 43 minutes, but the hosts would get a second goal in the dying embers of the first half, Thornley scoring from a set-piece.

The Highwaymen started the second half with a bit more purpose, with Nic Bollado firing straight at Mat Hewelt in the Radcliffe goal in the 51st minute.

Six minutes later though and the visitors were indebted to their keeper once more as Lowson denied Morgan from point-blank range.

Stemming the tide, Lowson couldn’t stop Maynard making it three on 64 minutes to confirm an almost inevitable outcome.

There was still time for Steels to slot home from close range, after Hewelt had parried, in the 87th minute. But fellow substitute Navarro would make it four as the clock ticked past 90.

Town are next in action when they travel to big-spending Macclesfield on Saturday (3pm) in the Pitching In NPL Premier Division.

RADCLIFFE: Hewelt, Morgan, Oyibo, Sargent, Thornley, Maynard, Jackson, Adams (c), Hulme (Bange 70’), Dudley (Thompson 70’), Hancock (Navarro 70’).

SUBS: Tse, Brockbank.

MORPETH TOWN: Lowson, Wombwell, Robson, Barlow (Donaldson 74’), Henderson (c), Turner, Foalle, John, Hodgson (Steels 64’), Bollado (Dowling 74’), Johnson.

SUBS: Boyd, King.

ATT: 1131