A torrid first half left Morpeth Town with too big a mountain to climb as they lost 3-1 at Whitby Town in the Pitching In NPL Premier Division.

Max Howells, Aaron Haswell, and Stephen Walker all scored in the opening 45 minutes, before Nic Bollado reduced the deficit on 65 minutes.

The Highwaymen brought Ryan Donaldson into the starting line-up, in place of the injured Danny Barlow, with Hartlepool United loanee Christian Lynn slotting in at left back and Bollado filling in as number nine with leading scorer Sam Hodgson on the bench. Andrew Johnson was also given a breather after starring against Worksop last time out.

Morpeth started fairly well, even if they saw little of the ball in the opening 10 minutes prior to going behind.

Howells was the man to profit from a long ball forward to score. After keeper Shane Bland had gathered a Jack Foalle cross, the stopper quickly volleyed the ball downfield, over the top of a static Town defence and into the path of Howells, allowing the winger to round Morpeth keeper Dan Lowson and score.

Lowson would need to be on hand on 21 minutes to deny the hosts a second, reacting smartly to get down low and push clear a free-kick.

Town were just flickering into life on 22 minutes when, following their best move of the game so far, Foalle combined with Bollado to feed Steels but the winger had drifted just offside as he forced a good save from Bland.

Then, on 30 minutes, Whitby scored their second. After struggling to clear a corner kick, the ball fell to Haswell, who drilled a low shot into the corner to give his side clear daylight and a deserved two-goal lead.

Lacking tempo and a consistent press, Morpeth were being played through too often. It was a similar story for the third goal of the game, on the stroke of half time, from Walker.

The forward was afforded the freedom of Morpeth’s half to stride on to a straight through ball, using plenty of time to round Lowson and walk the ball into the net.

The nature of the first half performance needed significant improvement and there was, no doubt, some angry words exchanged at the break.

It spurred the Highwaymen on to a much improved second period, starting with Foalle crashing a rising effort off the crossbar just seconds after the interval.

Moving with much more purpose, intent to press, and a more unified approach, the visitors were getting on the front foot repeatedly but should have been 4-0 down on 55 minutes. However, Lowson was on hand to deny Howells with a superb point-blank range save.

On 65 minutes, the away side would get the goal their second half showing deserved when Bollado struck. The striker was set up by impressive wing play from Foalle before the latter sent a fizzing low cross in for Bollado to fire into the bottom corner.

With Morpeth resurgent, they were buoyed further by a straight red card to Whitby’s Harrison Beeden. The centre-back hauled substitute Andrew Johnson to the floor after the latter pinched the ball from him and bore down on goal on 74 minutes.

It made for a frantic finale as a flurry of corners failed to deliver a goal, with the closest Morpeth would come to a second on the night being Fenton John’s effort that was always going over.

Town are next in action in their final away outing of the campaign when making the trip to Ilkeston Town. Full match commentary will once again be available on Highwaymen Radio from 2.55pm.

WHITBY TOWN: Bland, Smith, Shepherd, Gell, Rowe (c), Beeden, Hawkins (Griffiths 65’), Haswell, Walker (Mondal 48’), Gratton (Beals 76’), Howells.

SUBS: Thomas, Doherty.

MORPETH TOWN: Lowson, Robson, Lynn, Dowling, Henderson (c), King (Wombwell 57’), Foalle, Donaldson (Johnson 65’), Bollado, John, Steels (Boyd 86’).

SUBS: Barlow, Hodgson.

ATT: 302