By Andrew McDonnell (@AndrewSJourno)

Joseph Walton and Sean Taylor both scored hat-tricks as Morpeth Town thrashed Ryhope CW 7-1 at Craik Park.

Conor Winter opened the scoring early in the game, but Taylor scored a penalty and Walton found the bottom corner to turn the game around.

Four goals in the space of 10 second-half minutes left Morpeth in complete control, with Walton scoring either side of Taylor’s second, while Mateusz Halambiec headed home.

Taylor lobbed over the ‘keeper and hit the post on 70 minutes before sealing his hat-trick with a composed finish with eight minutes to go.

Morpeth came into the game with several players on the side-line through injury, but it was the hosts who had the first chance of the game.

Taylor’s cross was attacked by Steven Anderson, but the forward flicks the ball on and out of the reach of Walton at the back post.

Chris Reid was on hand to stop Joseph Melvin breaking the deadlock on 10 minutes after the wide man took the ball round the approaching ‘keeper.

However, Ryhope did take the lead two minutes later, after a scramble in the box, which saw the ball strike the post, Winter swept in and tapped in on the line.

Morpeth reacted well and after Walton struck the post with a spectacular effort, they managed to find an equaliser.

Chris Reid was brought down by Daniel Mann, and Taylor stepped up and slotted the penalty into the bottom corner.

And within two minutes, the game was turned on its head and the Highwaymen found themselves ahead in the game.

The ball was helped on to Walton on the edge of the area, and after the wide man took a touch, he lashed the ball past the helpless ‘keeper.

Morpeth were certainly on top all the way up until the break, Taylor hit the side-netting twice before Chris Rookes tipped Keith Graydon’s shot onto the bar and over.

A decisive third goal in the game came five minutes after the break when Taylor played a low cross into the area and an unmarked Walton tapped home.

The forward, who has recently signed from Washington, turned provider three minutes later when his cross was directed into the net by Taylor.

Morpeth were picking Ryhope apart and Walton completed his hat-trick on 56 minutes after he tapped in Reid’s drilled cross.

Number six soon followed, a delightful ball into the back post from Graydon was powerfully headed past the ‘keeper by Halambiec.

Chance after chance fell the home side’s way, Taylor’s lob over the ’keeper ricocheted of the post and was scrambled clear.

Ryhope had their only chance of the second-half when Joseph Melvin forced Dryden into making a fine save with his legs, but Morpeth went on and scored a deserved seventh.

Taylor picked up the ball, and after evading a challenge, he curled into bottom corner to complete his hat-trick.

And what a performance it was, five second-half goals from the hosts, and it could have been more.

The Highwaymen welcome South Shields to Craik Park on Saturday as they look to maintain their 100% home record this season.

Morpeth Town: Dryden, Grieve, Turner, Sayer (Fondato, 68 min), Hall, Reid, Taylor, Graydon, Anderson, Mullen, Walton (Halambiec, 57 min)

Subs Not Used: Novak, Forster

Ryhope CW: Rookes, Mann, Weirs, Ord, Alderson, Chapman, Davis, O’Neil, Winter (Monday, 65 min), Bell (Ellis, 86 min), Melvin

Subs Not Used: Graham

Goals: 0-1, 12 min, Winter; 1-1, 26 min, Taylor; 2-1, 28 min, Walton; 3-1, 50 min, Walton; 4-1, 53 min, Taylor; 5-1, 56 min, Walton; 6-1, 60 min, Halambiec; 7-1, 82 min, Taylor.

Referee: Graeme Hopper

Assistants: Neil Wright and Gary McMullan

Attendance: 128