Morpeth Town fell at the first hurdle as they exited the FA Trophy at the Third Qualifying Round with a 3-1 loss at Workington, writes Ross Jackson.

After leading through Jack Foalle’s 14th minute strike, the Highwaymen conceded three times in the second half, firstly from Steve Rigg on the hour-mark, before a disastrous 60-second spell saw them concede on 85 and 86 minutes, with substitute Jamie Allen getting on the scoresheet and Rigg netting again.

The Highwaymen started the game well and looked more than comfortable for, certainly, the first 45 minutes.

In a half of few chances, Foalle’s eighth goal of an increasingly profitable campaign was the first of note as Morpeth settled into the game. After Fenton John had been chopped down seconds earlier in a similar move, Workington failed to heed the warning, allowing the midfielder to dart inside and thread a through ball for Foalle to latch on to and lash into the back of the net.

Workington were offering little in the opposite direction as Town worked hard off the ball and countered with pace and menace.

The best chance for the hosts arrived on the stroke of half time but, after working the ball to an unmarked Josh Galloway with just keeper Dan Langley to beat, the winger lashed wildly over the bar.

Leading by a single goal and showing composure on the ball, the Highwaymen simply needed more of the same in the second half. Instead, Workington upped the ante and the visitors couldn’t keep up.

The equaliser came on 60 minutes through Rigg, the striker following up after David Symington’s superb effort cannoned off the inside of the post leaving Rigg with the chance to slot home.

Town then had a string of chances to retake the lead just after the goal, a corner nearly whipping into the back of the net seconds after the restart before Luke James’ effort was fielded comfortably by Reds keeper Alex Mitchell.

Morpeth should have been ahead on 70 minutes following Nic Bollado’s cut-back, but Foalle and John collided with each other with both trying to get a shot away.

Both sides either didn’t want a penalty shootout to decide matters or sensed a winner was there to be had.

After both Symington and Bollado had near post efforts that were either off target or saved, the decisive minute would arrive on 85 minutes.

First, Allen slammed home a rebound after Morpeth gifted possession allowing fellow substitute Tom Stephenson to maraud down the right flank. Then, just seconds later, Rigg strode clear to fire home at the near post to turn a nervy finish into a procession.

Town exit the FA Trophy but will seek to bounce back with a home double-header in the league next week, starting with Ilkeston Town on Tuesday before Whitby Town visit Craik Park on Saturday.

WORKINGTON: Mitchell, Little, Fitzpatrick, Kamara, Swinglehurst, Ambrose, Symington, Nugent, Rigg, Norris, Galloway.

SUBS: Wilkinson, McCarron, Stephenson, Allen, Hubbold.

MORPETH TOWN: Langley, Evans, Robson, Dowling, Henderson, King, John, Barlow, Foalle, Bollado, James.

SUBS: Wombwell, Chater, Griggs.

ATT: 592