By Andrew McDonnell (@AndrewSJourno)

Morpeth Town were certainly made to work for their 3-2 victory over Scottish Lowland League side Gala Fairydean Rovers on Saturday at Netherdale.

The hosts took a surprise lead after 11 minutes when Danny Simpson headed home, but Morpeth responded and pulled back level seven minutes later through Liam Henderson.

After Luke Carr put the Highwaymen ahead shortly after, Gala responded in the second half, and Simpson scored again after a poor clearance from Niall Harrison was latched upon.

In a very entertaining match, one more goal followed and Paul Johnson got that goal, which handed Morpeth their second victory in as many days.

The previous night saw Morpeth thrash Hawick Royal Albert, but they knew that they were in for a test coming up against a stronger opposition.

And it was Paulo Neves’ side who managed to find the breakthrough in with their first attempt at goal, moments after Sean Taylor had a good chance at the other end.

Dean McColm burst past the full-back and managed to dig out a brilliant cross, which evaded the keeper and found the head of Simpson to take the lead.

Carr created a chance for Michael Hall, whose header was down at the keeper, but Morpeth pulled back level on 18 minutes after a brilliant move forward.

Stephen Forster picked up the ball and drove before finding Carr, who neatly touched the ball into the path of Henderson and the striker produced a clinical finish to level the game.

The Highwaymen were moving forward with ease and looked dangerous with every move, and they went ahead for the first time in the game on 29 minutes.

Brandon Williams played through to Carr, who picked up the ball, but was ushered away from goal by the defender, but the playmaker still managed to produced a sublime finish from a difficult angle.

After the break, Morpeth made two changes at half-time, but it was Gala who came out looking more likely to get the next goal in the match.

Jack Hay forced substitute Harrison into a good save, before another from Ross Lamb, but he was left red-faced when a poor clearance led to an equaliser.

Morpeth looked comfortable, but Harrison’s clearance failed to get over the defence, Simpson picked up the ball, drove at goal and slotted under the approaching keeper.

The Highwaymen didn’t let that set-back get on top of them, and they responded well, with Forster lashing a fantastic shot against the crossbar minutes later.

However, Morpeth regained the load two minutes after that, and it was well-deserved too as seconds before, a header was cleared off the line.

And from that corner from Carr, Johnson headed powerfully at goal, that effort was bundled off the line, but the defender was the quickest to react to the rebound and he smashed home.

Henderson had another chance seven minutes from time, but Jamie Newman produced a fine save before Gala wasted a brilliant chance to level once more.

Darren Smith swung in a corner, and Michael Allan was in acres of space in the box, but his free header sailed over the bar and the defender sunk his head into his hands.

Morpeth held on for a well-deserved victory, their second in succession, and they move onto Tuesday’s friendly with New Fordley.

Gala Fairydean Rovers: Newman, Stephen, McColm, Allan, Main, Herdman, Smith, Lamb (Berry 70), Simpson (Robertson 70), Hay, Aitchison

Subs Not Used: Kerr

Morpeth Town: Provett (Harrison 46), Lay, Reid, Fondato (Johnson 46), Grieve, Hall (Graydon 68), Taylor, Forster, Henderson, Carr, Williams (Chilton 68)

Goals: 1-0, 11 min Simpson; 1-1, 18 min, Henderson, 1-2, 29 min, Carr; 2-2, 59 min, Simpson; 2-3, 65 min, Johnson

Referee: Alan Hogg

Assistants: Abdelaziz Safi and Gary Callaghan

Attendance: 83