By Andrew McDonnell (@AndrewSJourno)

Sean Taylor scored late to earn Morpeth Town a crucial three points as they beat Whitley Bay 2-1 at Hillheads Park.

The hosts went ahead just after the half-hour mark when Ross Wilkinson headed low into the bottom corner.

Mark Davison responded for the visitors four minutes later when he headed Jordan Fry’s cross past ‘keeper Tom Flynn.

Morpeth controlled the second-half and were rewarded on 78 minutes when Taylor curled into the top corner.

Nick Gray and Dave Malone’s side hadn’t been in action since the South Shields rematch, but it was the Highwaymen that began the game strongly.

The first chance of the game fell Morpeth’s way on five minutes – Taylor drove across the edge of the area before striking at Flynn.

Peter Glen-Ravenhill’s effort four minutes later was blocked near the goal line, before Liam Henderson was denied by a superb save from the ‘keeper.

And it was a decisive one too as the hosts went ahead when Wilkinson’s stooped low to head home Tom Potter’s cross.

Morpeth weren’t behind for long and the goal spurred them on, and four minutes later the game was level once more.

Fry took advantage of Chris McDonald’s slip, and crossed into the area after driving forward for Davison, who towered above his marker to head home.

The visitors closed out the half strongly and had chances to go into half-time head with Keith Graydon firing just wide before Joseph Walton’s cross was almost turned into his own net by Tom Gilbey.

Walton proved to be a thorn in Whitley’s side in additional time once more when his drilled cross was flapped at by Flynn before the hosts scrambled the ball clear.

The visitors picked up where they left off after the break and went close twice in quick succession.

Ben Sayer drove at goal and forced the ‘keeper into making a fine low save before Taylor latched onto a ball over the top by Graydon.

The wide man’s touch, which took him past his marker, was even better and he then tried to life his shot into the roof of the net, but Flynn denied the hosts once more.

Morpeth were pressing hard and new signing Denver Morris came on for the final 20 minutes.

The Highwaymen’s best chance of the game, arguably, came two minutes later, Sayer played Henderson through on goal, but the forward was denied by Flynn once more.

Whitley were holding on, but 12 minutes before the end, the visitors struck a decisive blow and deservedly went ahead in the game.

Liam Henderson miscued a header, which was half-cleared before Taylor latched onto the ball and fired into the corner of the net.

Substitute Liam Brooks fired wide of Dryden’s goal before the visitors went within inches of sealing victory.

Morris headed on a throw-in towards substitute Michael Chilton, who volleyed fiercely at goal and Flynn had to pluck the ball out of the top corner to deny the forward.

One more chance fell the Bay’s way – McDonald curled at goal, and the shot was heading into the goal, but Dryden produced a world-class save to keep the visitors ahead.

Morpeth held on for a valuable three points and have a week to prepare for the visit of Newcastle Benfield next Saturday.

Whitley Bay: Flynn, Gilbey, McDonald, Haley, Anderson, Wilkinson, Potter (Robertson, 76), Patton (Brooks, 81), Glen-Ravenhill, Kempster, Charmey

Subs Not Used: Allen, McCarthy, Keltie

Morpeth Town: Dryden, Walton, Turner, Sayer, Grieve, Reid, Taylor, Graydon, Davison (Morris, 70), Henderson (Chilton, 84), Fry

Subs Not Used: Hall, Robinson, Doninger

Goals: 1-0, 31 min, Wilkinson; 1-1, 35 min, Davison; 1-2, 78 min, Taylor

Referee: Mark Ryan

Assistants: Gary Hargrave and Paul Cooper

Attendance: 387