By Andrew McDonnell (@AndrewSJourno)

Ben Sayer’s late strike ensure Morpeth Town made it two wins against two National League North sides this pre-season, after a 3-2 win over Blyth Spartans.

Sayer opened the scoring just 29 seconds into the game, after latching onto Liam Henderson’s pass, and Joe Walton doubled the Highwaymen’s advantage going into half-time.

The Spartans fought back and levelled the game through Jarrett Rivers and Jordan Laidler, whose goal come nine minutes before the end.

Sayer produced a sublime finish from 20-yards out to make sure the visitors are going into Saturday’s Cleator Cup game off the back of a victory.

Nick Gray and Dave Malone’s side had the weekend to prepare for the game with the Spartans, and they raced out the blocks to take the lead.

With just 29 seconds on the clock, Henderson stole the ball off Damen Mullen and sent Sayer through on goal, and the midfielder made no mistake with the finish – slotting into the bottom corner.

Karl Dryden was called into action on 11 minutes, Dale Hopson cut back inside and curled at goal, forcing the ‘keeper into making a save.

Dan Maguire went close before Hopson tested Dryden once more, this time he cut back onto his right foot and curled at the Morpeth shot-stopper.

Morpeth should have doubled their advantage on the half-hour mark, Wayne Phillips’ cross was met by the head of Walton, who glanced over from a few yards out.

However, the visitors made up for the miss and did make it 2-0 on 36 minutes, after Blyth failed to clear their lines.

The ball ricocheted off several players before breaking through to Jordan Fry, who helped the ball onto Walton, and the wide man struck home from close range.

Morpeth had the first opening of the second-half, with Sean Taylor shooting wide inside the area, just 37 seconds after the restart.

It wasn’t until after the hour mark that Blyth started to turn the screw, with A Trialist curling wide before Dryden pushed Hopson’s shot wide of the post.

Jordan Watson lashed off the foot of the post moments later, but the hosts did pull one back on 72 minutes.

A poor pass back from Taylor was intercepted by substitute Jarrett Rivers, who prodded the ball home ahead of Dryden.

Sean Reid stretched for Rivers’ cross soon after, but couldn’t quite direct the effort goalwards, but the hosts did find an equaliser with nine minutes to go.

Rivers gathered Dryden’s goal-kick and played through Reid, who beat the oncoming Dryden to the ball and Laidler swept the loose ball home inside the area.

However, Morpeth replied immediately, Sayer picked up the ball from Michael Turner, drove inside and unleashed a shot, from 20-yards, which hit the post and nestled into the net.

The visitors managed to hold on for victory and recorded their second victory in pre-season over a side three leagues above them.

Blyth Spartans: A Trialist, Cartwright (Hutchinson, 57), I.Watson, Mullen, Reid, Buddle (J.Watson, 57), A Trialist (Rivers, 57), A Trialist (A Trialist, 69), Maguire (Laidler, 69) Hopson, Dale (Liddle, 69)

Subs Not Used: MacDonald

Morpeth Town: Dryden, Forster, Turner, Sayer, Pell (Coppen, 46), Reid, Taylor, Phillips (Carr, 70), Fry (Chilton, 46), Henderson (Walton, 4), Carson

Subs Not Used: Hiftle, Johnson, Woodhouse, A Trialist

Referee: Scott Duncan

Assistants: Craig Chatten and Tom Chambers

Attendance: 408