Morpeth Town absolutely demolished National League North Blyth Spartans as they unleashed an outstanding attacking display that their opponents simply couldn’t deal with.

Starting like a freight train, Morpeth steamed into a 4-1 lead before the half hour mark thanks to goals from Sean Taylor, Keith Graydon, Mark Davison and Ben Sayer. A shell-shocked Blyth could only muster a Dylan McGlade strike in response. The second half got even better as Sayer completed a hat-trick, with Joe Walton getting a goal for himself and Davison bagging a second. Euan Anderson belatedly reduced the deficit as Blyth wilted under intense pressure.

Morpeth kept a relatively unchanged line-up from the victory at home to Jarrow Roofing, with the ever-dangerous Taylor and Walton patrolling the flanks.

Morpeth got off to a dream start, taking the lead in the fifth minute through Taylor. Registering his 16th goal of the season, the midfielder cut in off the left flank before firing a deflected strike into the back of the net.

The Spartans responded immediately however, with McGlade finding the net. The winger rose highest at the back post to nod home a right-wing cross from Adam Wrightson after the diminutive player was afforded a yard of space to deliver.

A crazy opening to the contest took another twist with Graydon restoring Morpeth’s advantage. The captain, who had recently passed 150 appearances for Town, latched on to a loose ball 25 yards out before firing an unstoppable low drive into the bottom corner.

A one-goal lead became a two-goal cushion for the home side on 14 minutes, with Davison the latest to get on the score-sheet after he slotted home a Walton cross from the right. It was direct play from Walton as he powered to the byline and delivered a fizzing low drive for Davison to smash home.

It was an unbelievable start as Blyth’s full-backs simply couldn’t prevent Taylor and Walton charging forward. Morpeth, dominant from the off, added a fourth in the 29th minute through Sayer. A moment of individual brilliance, the midfielder took control of the ball before turning and arcing a curling effort into the far corner.

Chances were coming thick and fast for Morpeth as they set about their higher division rivals with a tenacity that Blyth simply couldn’t handle. David Carson was next to hold his head in his hands in the 40th minute as his lashed low drive across goal went inches past the far post.

Far from stepping off the gas, Town continued attacking at a frantic pace and should have added to their lead one minute after the restart through Carson. The midfielder, on the edge of the box, curled a shot towards the top corner but it hit the bar then struck substitute keeper Peter Jameson before the latter somehow kept it out.

But they wouldn’t have to wait long for a fifth goal as Walton got in on the scoring act on 53 minutes. The winger latched on to a Sayer through ball before chipping his strike elegantly over Jameson and into the back of the net.

The creator of that goal turned scorer on 63 minutes as Sayer unleashed a vicious effort from 25 yards that left the keeper clutching at thin air as Morpeth moved seamlessly through the gears to score a sixth.

The score-line kept ticking over and Morpeth netted a seventh as Sayer bagged his hat-trick. The former Blyth Spartan picked up the ball on the edge of the box before hammering another effort past Jameson.

Blyth underwhelmingly reduced the deficit on 76 minutes through left-back Euan Anderson as he thundered a header from the edge of the six-yard box past keeper Dan Lowson.

A five-goal cushion lasted all of 60 seconds before Morpeth scored an eighth courtesy of Davison. The forward picked up on a loose ball in the area to slam a strike past a beleaguered Jameson, who spent most of his time picking the ball out of the back of the net.

MORPETH TOWN: Lowson; Forster, Coppen, Reid, Turner; David Carson, Graydon (capt), Sayer (Phillips 70); Taylor (Henderson 75), Davison, Walton (Elliott 66).

SUBS NOT USED: Fry, Coombes.

GOALS: Taylor (5), Graydon (8), Davison (14, 77), Sayer (29, 63, 65), Walton (53)

BLYTH SPARTANS: MacDonald (Jameson 15); Uddgren, Anderson, Laidler, Buddle, Dale (capt), Wrightson, McTiernan (Wotherspoon 46), Rutherford, Horner (Murray 57), McGlade.

SUBS NOT USED: Lazzari, Shepherd.

GOALS: McGlade (6), Anderson (76)

ATT: 353