Morpeth recorded their second victory of the season but had to come from behind twice to take the points. Joe Walton was the hero as he scored in injury time to seal an amazing comeback. 

David Norris had put the visitors ahead before Walton equalised from the spot. Dan Lowson scored an own goal for the Blues to go back ahead before Liam Henderson bundled home. The came Walton’s heroics. 

The first chance of the game fell the way of the visitors after 9 minutes and they made no mistake as David Norris fired home at the near post. 

Norris was the man of the moment and on 16 minutes he drove forward to the edge of the box but his strike this time lacked conviction and was gathered easily by Dan Lowson. 

The first real chance that Morpeth had didn’t arrive until the 34th minute and it was somewhat against the run of the play with the rampaging Wayne Phillips who had got up into the box before being barged over by Paul Dawson which the referee gave as a penalty. Joe Walton stepped up and converted to square the game. 

Norris had another effort for the visitors just before the interval but like his previous strike it lacked power and was easy enough for Lowson.

Morpeth came out rejuvenated for the second half and should have gone ahead after 56 minutes. A great through ball from Sam Hodgson released Jack Foalle into the box but as Samuel Ashton came out, Foalle lifted the ball over the advancing ‘keeper but it drifted agonisingly wide of the far post. 

Liam Henderson who worked hard all evening was next to try his luck when he worked some space 25yds from goal but his effort took a slight deflection and was claimed by Ashton. 

Into the final 10 minutes and the game was on a knife edge, just as it looked like the Highwaymen were going to go ahead, they contrived to miss three chances in the space of a minute. A delightful ball into the area from Sean Taylor saw Sean Reid miss his attempted header before it fell to Henderson who saw his strike saved by Ashton before Henderson teed up Stephen Forster who saw his effort blocked by Steel. 

Those chances proved costly as on 86 minutes, the Dolly Blues went back into the lead through very fortuitous circumstances. A cross from the left by Charlie Bailey seemed like a simple take for Lowson but the ‘keeper fumbled the ball into the back of the net as he looked to distribute the ball quickly. 

Morpeth are made of stern stuff these days and kept plugging away even with time ebbing away. Henderson hauled his side level when he bundled home on 89 minutes. His initial shot was blocked and the rebound off Ashton bounced off Henderson and trickled in. 

Many sides would have been happy with a point but Ben Harmison thought differently. He nearly made another immediate impact as a substitute as he rounded Ashton but saw his attempt go into the side netting as the game entered injury time. 

There was to be one more chance and it was Henderson who was again involved. The big striker battled for the ball on the edge of the area and was taken down in the box with the referee pointing to the spot leading to furious protestations from the Lancaster players. Walton stepped up but saw Ashton save his spot kick, the rebound fell back to Walton who gleefully buried the ball into the back of the net to seal a remarkable victory.

It’s six points out of six for Town as they begin life in the NPL Premier Division and they shown two very different performances but gotten the points.

Next up is a trip to Brighouse on Saturday in the FA Cup. 

Morpeth Town: Lowson, Walton, Phillips (c), Mohammed (Harmison 86), Thackray, J. Henderson, Foalle (Forster, 80), Hodgson, L. Henderson, Reid, Potter (Taylor, 71).

Subs not Used: McKeown, Petrache

Goals: Walton 34’ (p), 90+3’ (p), L. Henderson 89’.

Lancaster City: Ashton, Dawson, Armer, Cowperthwaite, Steel (c), Hudson, Wilson (Wills, 71), Norris, Blinkhorn, Carsley, C. Bailey. 

Subs not Used: Fensome, S. Bailey, Povey, Joel. 

Goals: Norris 9’ Lowson OG 86’.

Attendance: 775

Man of the Match: Joe Walton