By Andrew McDonnell (@AndrewSJourno)

Mark Davison and Liam Henderson scored two goals apiece as Morpeth Town thrashed Chester-Le-Street 8-1 at Moore Park.

Davison’s brace came inside the first 11 minutes before Ben Sayer’s long-range effort put the visitors in complete control on 15 minutes.

Henderson scored either side of half-time to assert the Highwaymen’s dominance before Jack Honour headed in a consolation goal for the Cestrian’s.

Sean Taylor, Paul Robinson and Michael Hall all added strikes in the closing 20 minutes as Morpeth returned to the Northern League in fine fashion.

Morpeth welcome Bishop Auckland to Craik Park on Wednesday evening before their Boxing Day clash with Ashington.

Nick Gray and Dave Malone’s side came into the game having suffered a loss on penalties through the week, but that was soon put behind them.

Taylor’s corner came in and Davison’s header was scrambled off the line and Henderson’s rebound cannoned off the crossbar, but Morpeth went ahead two minutes later.

Sayer picked up the ball from Taylor’s short corner, who delivered a cross into the area for Davison to nod down into the bottom corner to open the scoring.

David Surrey’s first-time effort curled inches wide on nine minutes, but Morpeth turned the screw once more and doubled their lead.

Henderson intercepted Daniel Hepplewhite’s poor header and broke through on goal, his shot was saved well by Jack Wilson, but Davison followed up to fire the rebound into an empty net.

A third goal soon followed on 15 minutes, Sayer picked the ball up and struck effortlessly into the bottom corner from 30-yards out.

The visitors continued on top and Davison and Michael Turner both had efforts before the Highwaymen scored a deserved fourth in the game.

Taylor broke down the flank and held his cross back until he spotted the run of Henderson, who tapped in the cross from close range.

The Cestrian’s began the second-half well, and could have pulled one back, however, D.Hepplewhite’s header was just too high.

And on their next break, Morpeth found a fifth when Henderson latched onto Paul Robinson’s ball over the top and finished superbly on the turn.

Honour managed to give the home fans something to cheer about when he headed Dominic Laws’ free-kick over Karl Dryden and into the net.

However, this provoked an onslaught from the visitors as they went and scored two goals in as many minutes shortly after.

The first of which came when Taylor’s pass deflected back to the winger, who prodded into the bottom corner.

After winning the ball back from the kick-off, Morpeth broke and Robinson picked up the ball, Cruyff-turned twice before producing a delightful dink over the ‘keeper into the top corner.

Robinson was in among the action once again 10 minutes later, his corner was struck into the path of Hall by a defender, and the centre-half made no mistake with the finish.

Henderson had a chance late on for his hat-trick, but Wilson saved well before Alex White rattled the crossbar with the final kick of the game.

Morpeth closed the gap on leaders North Shields, who weren’t in action at the weekend, and move into a big week ahead as they play Bishop Auckland and Ashington at Craik Park.

Chester-Le-Street: Wilson, Stephenson, Reynolds, Marron (Hailes, 46 min), Grant-Soulsby, D.Hepplewhite, Surrey, Honour, M.Hepplewhite, Laws (Mole, 56 min), White

Subs Not Used: Bell

Morpeth Town: Dryden, Forster (Robinson, 46 min), Turner, Sayer (Halambiec, 72 min), Hall, Grieve, Taylor, Walton, Davison (Chilton, 65 min), Henderson, Doninger

Subs Not Used: Novak, Anderson

Goals: 0-1, 6 min, Davison; 0-2, 11 min, Davison; 0-3, 15 min, Sayer; 0-4, 40 min, Henderson; 0-5, 51 min, Henderson; 1-5, 69 min, Honour; 1-6, 71 min, Taylor; 1-7, 72 min, Robinson; 1-8, 82 min, Hall.

Referee: Michael Gillespy

Assistants: Dane McCormick and Jamie Cann

Attendance: 101