By Stuart Dick, Head of Media

Three goals in the first 22 minutes helped Morpeth Town pick up their fifth successive victory in the EBAC Northern League on a glorious afternoon at Nissan Sports Complex in Washington.

Michael Turner’s bundled effort on eight minutes gave Morpeth the advantage, before a Mark Davison double extended the lead. A solo strike from Keith Graydon added a fourth five minutes into the second half, before Jake Packard netted a consolation for the Mechanics.

Morpeth remain in fourth place, but close the gap on leaders North Shields to 18 points with five games in hand, with the sides set to face off on Wednesday 12th April.

The Highwaymen took the lead from a set-piece early in proceedings, Graydon finding space on the edge of the area, rolling the ball into the path of Turner who prodded the ball into the bottom left hand corner of Dan Gladstone’s net.

Five minutes later the lead should have been doubled, Michael Chilton running free on goal only to be denied one on one by a fine Gladstone save.

With quarter of an hour gone the Highwaymen went close again. A central through ball saw Sayer breach the Washington backline, he rolled the ball to Taylor on the left who lofted a cross to the back post, Joe Walton guiding a header wide of the right-hand post.

Within a minute Morpeth added their second. Davison finding space on the edge of the area before finishing calmly from 20 yards out into the bottom left hand corner.

Sean Taylor was next to go close, latching on to a fantastic lofted ball by Chris Reid, but the striker missed the target with Gladstone beat.

The Highwaymen didn’t have to wait much longer for their third of the afternoon. Walton pulling away down the right wing, lofting a pinpoint perfect cross onto the head of Davison who powered a header into the roof of the net.

Morpeth somewhat took their foot of the gas as the hosts began to get a foothold into the game, but only a strike from Ryan Nelson, which found the back of the net, causing the Highwaymen problems, with that goal ruled out for offside.

At half-time Morpeth led 3-0, and a fourth was added five minutes into the second period, Graydon on target as he stroked a 25-yard effort into the corner of Gladstone’s net.

Washington almost pulled a goal back through Packard in the 54th minute, he hit a vicious effort just over Dryden’s crossbar after beating the offside trap.

With 67 minutes played, Packard eventually found the net, side footing home from the edge of the area, leaving Dryden with no chance as it found the bottom right hand corner.

A lack of goalmouth action towards the end saw the Highwaymen record a 4-1 victory without really getting out of second gear. Town will look to continue their winning ways away at Consett on Tuesday night, 7.30pm Kick-Off.

Morpeth Town – Dryden, Forster, Novak, Sayer (Doninger), Turner, Reid, Taylor (Morris), Graydon (Robinson), Davison, Chilton, Walton.

Unused Subs – Provett, Grieve

Washington – Gladstone, Evans, Weldon, Laws, Bramley, White, Williamson, Mouanda, Waters, Packard, Nelson.

Subs – Malloy, Winthrop, Shaw, Fowler, Scott

Attendance – 67 (By our count)