By Andrew McDonnell (@AndrewSJourno)

Mark Davison scored his third brace in five games as Morpeth Town extended their winning run to nine games after thrashing Ashington 5-1 at Craik Park.

Davison headed home on five minutes before Chris Reid and Liam Henderson made it 3-0 inside the first 12 minutes of the game.

Keith Graydon tucked away a penalty just after the half-hour mark, while Ryan McGorrigan pulled one back two minutes later.

The Highwaymen added another to their tally four minutes from time when Davison tapped home Steven Anderson’s cross to make it 18 league wins out of 19 at home this season.

Nick Gray and Dave Malone’s side seen off Seaham Red Star on Saturday afternoon and there were no signs of fatigue as they went ahead early in the game.

Sean Taylor’s ball into the box was attacked by Davison, who headed into the corner of the net to break the deadlock after five minutes.

Morpeth hounded their opponents, who were on the back foot from the start, and doubled their advantage just three minutes later.

Ben Sayer’s cross was met at the front post by Reid and the centre-half headed home past a helpless Conor Grant.

The hosts were hungry for more, and they found a deserved third on 12 minutes when Sayer slipped the ball through to Henderson.

The forward took the ball round the approaching ‘keeper and tapped into the net from a tight angle – his 25th goal of the season.

Ashington’s first chance of the game came soon after, with Ben Sampson blazing over the bar from the edge of the area.

Morpeth were controlling the game and their next chance came their way just after the half-hour mark.

Keith Graydon’s floated cross to the back post was headed down and wide of the post by Davison, but they soon had the chance to score a fourth two minutes later.

Henderson was pushed over in the area and Morpeth captain Graydon, who scored a spot-kick against Seaham at the weekend, stepped up and found the corner of the net from the penalty spot.

The home faithful were certainly enjoying getting the better of their neighbours, and the Colliers eventually had something to cheer about two minutes later.

After a scramble in the area, the ball broke out to McGorrigan, who lashed the ball into the net from around eight-yards out.

Henderson’s effort from the edge of the area was spilled by Grant five minutes before the break, handing Sayer a chance to restore the four-goal lead, but the midfield maestro could only find the side-netting.

Former Highwaymen Dale Pearson fired over for the Colliers on the stroke of half-time, however, the hosts were quite happy to dictate play after the restart.

Taylor and Joseph Walton struck wide in the first five minutes, while the next opening didn’t come until 76 minutes when the visitors went close.

Karl Dryden produced a brilliant save, low to his left, to push away Paul Antony’s free-kick, and the ‘keeper was called into action once again when he pushed Ben Harmison’s drilled effort behind.

Morpeth found a fifth goal late on, substitute Steven Anderson latched onto a mistake by an Ashington defender and played the ball across the six-yard area for Davison, who tapped home for his second of the game.

Anderson almost got on the scoresheet himself two minutes later, the ball was thumped into the winger and went inches over the crossbar to the relief of ‘keeper Grant.

Morpeth now have back-to-back away games in the league, second-placed North Shields on Wednesday evening and league-leaders South Shields on Saturday afternoon.

Morpeth Town: Dryden, Forster, Turner, Sayer (Doninger, 69), Grieve, Reid, Taylor (Anderson, 76), Graydon (Robinson, 61), Davison, Henderson, Walton

Subs Not Used: Morris, Novak

Ashington: Grant, Henderson, Christensen (Salmon, 75), Antony (Downey, 82), Bell, Buchanan, Sampson, McGorrigan, Pearson, B.Harmison, McAndrew

Subs Not Used: Hall, Tiffoney, J.Harmison

Goals: 1-0, 5 min, Davison; 2-0, 8 min, Reid; 3-0, 12 min, Henderson; 4-0, 34 min, Graydon (Pen); 4-1, 36 min, McGorrigan; 5-1 86 min, Davison.

Referee: Dean Hulme

Assistants: Philip Guard and Lee May

Attendance: 353

Photo: Chris Chambers/ CJC Photo – Official Morpeth Town Photographer