Morpeth Town shared the spoils with Grantham Town as an absorbing contest ended 1-1 at Craik Park in the Pitching In NPL Premier Division season opener.

After Ryan Holland was sent off on 34 minutes, Andrew Johnson headed the opener on his debut to give the Highwaymen the advantage. That was cancelled out eight minutes into the second half when Ashley Worsfold equalised.

Both sides started brightly enough and would have been pleased with their opening as Morpeth enjoyed decent possession, while Grantham looked threatening when marauding forward.

Chances were at a premium somewhat, before the game leapt into life just before half-time with a red card. Holland was the man to receive it on 34 minutes, the defender handling the ball and preventing Andrew Johnson from bearing down on goal outside the area.

If perhaps debatable from a distance, the opening Morpeth goal on 39 minutes was much more decisive as Johnson headed home emphatically at the near post, leaving keeper Jan Budtz grasping at thin air at the near post.

The game started to bubble up heading towards half-time as a succession of niggly fouls threatened to boil over.

The second half, though, would start with an equaliser for the visitors as Worsfold capitalised on a defensive lapse to smash home the rebound after Dan Lowson had saved an effort seconds earlier.

As the game wore on, it became fraught and frantic as both sides sensed the chance to grab a winner.

Ben Middleton nearly got something on a far post delivery for the visitors before Morpeth had chances blocked, with Jack Foalle and Carl Finnigan both threatening.

The best chance in the closing stages would fall the way of Jeff Henderson, but his back-post header struck the woodwork.

Grantham could have won it late on had Campbell found the target with a ferocious drive, but it was off target and the game ended in stalemate.

Morpeth Town are next in action on Tuesday night when they travel to City of Liverpool FC (7.45pm) in the FA Cup First Qualifying Round.

MORPETH TOWN: Lowson, Forster, Williams, Hodgson, J.Henderson, Turner, Foalle, Sayer (Oliver 80), L.Henderson (Finnigan 71), Noble, Johnson.

SUBS NOT USED: Mohammed, Leonard, Hutchinson.

GOALS: Andrew Johnson (38)

GRANTHAM TOWN: Budtz, Middleton, Law, Hollingsworth, Ward, Holland, Dyer, Abbott, Worsfold (Campbell 65), Doran (Hardy 83), Kianga (Concalves 75).

GOALS: Ashley Worsfold (53)

SUBS NOT USED: Turner, Biggs.

ATT: 403