Morpeth Town squandered a 2-0 lead to end their winning streak at eight games on Tuesday evening at Heritage Park in a 3-2 defeat to Bishop Auckland.
An extremely dubious penalty awarded by the referee, despite the linesman, who had a better view of the incident, stating their was no handball, allowed Andrew Johnson to net an 83rd minute winner.
Chris Reid and debutante Mark Doninger had give the Highwaymen a deserved two goal lead in the first half, with the visitors missing numerous chances in both periods.
A wonder-strike by James Fairley pulled a goal back before the break, before Johnson tapped in from close range midway through the second half after Dryden parried an Auckland free-kick, another questionable award.
Morpeth made just the one change to the side that beat Marske United on Saturday, Doninger replacing Graydon in midfielder.
And the Highwaymen dominated from the opening second of the first half, almost going ahead when Henderson played in Doninger, who rounded the ‘keeper but was unable to convert from an acute angle.
A minute later Henderson missed a golden chance, clean through one on one he rolled the ball under Wilczynski, but wide of the target.
In the 6th minute Town took a deserved lead through Reid. Henderson inital shot was saved well by Wilczynski, but the rebound was turned home by the centre-back.
Morpeth continued to press, Joe Walton picked out Jordan Fry in the penalty area in the 16th minute, the midfielder unable to keep his strike under the bar.
Doninger then found the net two minutes later as broke through the Bishops back four and converted, only to see the offside flag raised.
It took until the 24th minute for the hosts to muster an opportunity, Thompson hitting the side netting with a header.
Two minutes later, the lead was doubled, Henderson’s cross was guided back across goal by Mark Davison where Doninger netted from a yard out on his debut.
With half an hour gone the hosts reduced arrears against the run of play. James Fairley was given space 25 yards out and he rifled home a fantastic strike.
Just before the break, Henderson went close again, Walton finding the feet of the striker with a fine pass, Henderson’s shot saved yet again by Wilczynski.
Three minutes into the second half, the referee inexplicably awarded a free-kick to the Highwaymen, when the foul was clearly in the penalty area.
Sayer drilled the free-kick at the ‘keeper, he parried and the ball pin-balled round the penalty area before being eventually cleared.
Bruno Pilatos and Henderson then had a coming together, the Bishops man pushing Henderson in the face, once again the referee inexplicably only awarded a yellow.
Another free-kick saw Ben Sayer force yet another fine save out of Wilczynski, before the ‘keeper was almost left red-faced a minute later when his clearance hit off Davison and bounced agonisingly wide for the Highwaymen.
With 73 minutes on the clock, the hosts got an equaliser from a dubiously awarded free-kick. Wright’s free-kick was spilled by Dryden, and Andrew Johnson on hand to duly finish.
9 minutes later, the crucial moment came, with the referee yet again the centre of attention.
Stephen Forster chested the ball in the penalty area, with the referee unable to see from his position. The linesman, who saw the incident clearly didn’t signal for a penalty, and play appeared to continue.
The referee then awarded the penalty, after looking at the linesman who later raised his flag for offside, a huge injustice.
Andrew Johnson stepped up to convert the penalty, and did so with aplomb, bringing to an end Morpeth’s winning streak.
