Ben Sayer was the shining light as Morpeth Town cruised to a 5-1 victory on an eventful night against North Shields at Craik Park.

Midfielder Sayer shone, scoring a hat-trick, as his team surged to three points with a floodlight failure thrown in in the closing stages.

Wayne Phillips and Mark Davison also got in on the scoring act as Town blew away a stunned Shields outfit.

It was the hosts who took the lead when Davison was on hand to flick home a 13th minute cross in from the right.

But the celebrations had barely died down before the visitors struck back, Dan Wilson heading home moments later, despite the best efforts of keeper Karl Dryden, to level the game once more.

An entertaining start to the game continued as both sides sensed their chance for three points, but it was Sayer’s stage and he only added to his impressive reputation.

The free-scoring midfielder let fly with a low 25th minute shot which left Shields keeper Kyle Hayes flat-footed before repeating the trick from the same 25 yard range seconds later.

It was a decisive time in the game but the visitors showed commendable resilience and should have reduced the deficit on the stroke of half-time with a penalty.

After little complaint from the home side, following a clumsy challenge in the area, it was up to Dean Holmes to score from the spot but his effort was superbly kept out by Dryden as Town went in two goals ahead at the interval.

Surely asking for more of the same, Morpeth’s management duo of Dave Malone and Nick Gray will have been delighted with their team’s second half display as they continued to play an expansive brand of football which Shields couldn’t live with at times.

This resulted in another quick-fire burst of goals on the hour mark as the hosts pulled decisively clear.

Sayer was the first to benefit from a deflection on the edge of the area, but he showed his undoubted class by elegantly dinking the ball over the on rushing Hayes and into the back of the net; a classy finish to cap off a wonderful midfield showing.

The Highwayman weren’t done there though with Phillips next to get on the score-sheet with a driven effort as Morpeth hit five.

Although little more goalmouth action took place, there was still time for the lights to go out with 14 minutes left. But the Morpeth support staff were on hand to bring light back to the pitch so the game could be played out to a conclusion.

After such an excellent victory, Morpeth will be keen to see as many fans as possible turn out for our next match when we welcome Washington to Craik Park on Saturday (3pm KO).

Morpeth Town: Dryden, Forster, Coppen, Carson, Turner, Taylor, Sayer (Fry 85), Graydon (Hiftle 82), Walton, Phillips, Davison (Chilton 73).

Subs not used: Henderson, Carr.

Goals: Davison (13), Sayer (25, 27 and 60) and Phillips (61).

North Shields: Hayes, Donnison, Summerly, Ormston, Parker, Hughes, Henderson, Foster, Wilson (Bainbridge 65), Carr (Mason 65), Holmes (Kerridge 70).

Subs not used: Luccock, Robinson.

Goal: Wilson (14)

ATT: 283