By Andrew McDonnell (@AndrewSJourno)

Luke Carr’s late penalty extended Morpeth Town’s unbeaten streak to five games and earned them a deserved point against Ashington at Woodhorn Lane.

Sean Taylor struck the post nine minutes after the break before Andrew Bulford put the hosts ahead three minutes later.

Morpeth battled and after Lee McAndrew handled the ball in the area, Carr stepped up and kept his composure to send the ‘keeper the wrong way.

The Highwaymen could have had another penalty in injury time, but despite another handball in the area, play was waved on.

It is now five games unbeaten for Nick Gray and Dave Malone’s side and they now have the rest of the week to prepare for Saturday’s FA Cup match with Colwyn Bay.

After Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Sunderland RCA, the Highwaymen were coming into the derby with the Colliers looking to get back to winning ways.

But it was a disappointing half, in sweltering conditions, where neither side could create much of an opening.

Stephen Forster dragged his shot wide in the opening exchanges, but it wasn’t until the half-hour mark when the visitors had another glimpse at goal.

Paul Robinson struck his shot at Conor Grant before the ‘keeper spilled Damen Mullen’s long-range effort.

Michael Chilton came sweeping in, but the linesman had his flag up for offside, and it was goalless at the break.

The Highwaymen came out and started the better, and should have went ahead on 54 minutes after a good passage of play.

Carr drilled the ball across the six-yard box for Taylor to tap home at the back post, but the winger could only strike the foot of the post with the glorious chance.

And the Highwaymen were made to pay for that missed opportunity as the Colliers went to the other end three minutes later and scored.

Kyle Downey played a long ball over the top and found Bulford, who took the ball around the approaching Karl Dryden and tapped home into an empty net.

It was the hosts’ first chance of the game and they made Morpeth pay, and the Colliers continued to frustrate their opponents.

Mullen struck from range and had Grant scrambling across his goal, but the effort went inches wide of the post, but the Colliers should have gone two-up.

Another long ball caught out the Morpeth back line and former player Lee McAndrew raced through on goal, but he failed to make the most of the chance and blazed his shot wide.

Three minutes later Downey produced a moment of brilliance when he skipped through three challenges, but his effort wide and out for a throw-in.

Time was ticking and running out, but five minutes from time James Novak broke into the box and crossed brilliantly, and the ball bounced up and hit McAndrew’s arm.

The referee had no hesitation in giving the penalty, and Carr kept his composure, stepped up and slotted the ball into the bottom corner.

As blatant as that penalty was, the Highwaymen should have been given another in injury time for another handball, but play was waved on.

In the end draw was a fair result, and Morpeth now have to get themselves prepared for Saturday’s big game in the FA Cup with Colwyn Bay.

Ashington: Grant, Henderson, Christensen, Blandford (Sampson, 76 min), J.Harmison, Buchanan, Gunn, Downey, Stevens, Bulford, McAndrew

Subs Not Used: Glasper, Salmon, Dunn, Scott

Morpeth: Dryden, Forster, Novak, Sayer (Fry, 81 min), Grieve, Reid, Taylor (Anderson, 62 min), Mullen, Carr, Chilton, Robinson (Graydon, 62 min)

Subs Not Used: Fondato, Hall

Goals: 1-0, 57 min, Bulford; 1-1, 86 min, Carr (Pen).

Referee: Graeme Hopper

Assistants: Ian Freeland and Charlie Ford

Attendance: 307

Photo: Chris Chambers/ CJC Photo (Official Club Photographer of Morpeth Town)