By Andrew McDonnell (@AndrewSJourno)

Morpeth Town played out a goalless draw with Scottish League Two side Berwick Rangers at Shielfield Park in their first pre-season game.

The hosts rattled the crossbar midway through the first-half when Keiran Scullion head off the woodwork before Karl Dryden gathered the ball.

Greg Rutherford’s shot hit the post just before half-time as the two sides couldn’t be separated at the break.

Morpeth’s best chance came with 18 minutes remaining, as an unmarked Michael Chilton headed Ben Sayer’s cross straight at the ‘keeper.

Nick Gray and Dave Malone handed debuts to Danny Carson and Richard Pell, while Luke Carr was named in the starting line-up for the first time since re-signing.

The visitors started brightly, moving the ball around well, and it was the Highwaymen that had the first opening of the game.

Carr’s cross-field ball was met by Sean Taylor, who cut inside and forced a low save out of Sean Brennan at at his near post.

Steven Thompson had the first opening for the hosts, the midfielder gathered the ball and drove wide of Dryden’s goal from outside the area.

Both sides were settling into the game and the next chance came just before the half-hour mark.

Scullion headed off the crossbar, and moments later youngster Callum Johnson’s effort was gathered by Brennan.

Morpeth’s ‘keeper was tested once more when Murrell drove low from the edge of the area, and the hosts struck the post when Rutherford lobbed the ball over Dryden and off the far post.

Thompson went close once more as he forced Morpeth’s ‘keeper into making a low save, and the sides went into the break goalless.

Three changes were made by the visitors at half-time. Wayne Phillips and Curtis Coppen – making their first appearances for Morpeth – replacing Keith Graydon and Richard Pell respectively and Joe Walton also came on in place of Johnson.

Walton played a part in the first chance of the second period, he handed the ball off to Carr, who struck over the bar from 25-yards.

Just after the hour mark, Gary Phillips dispossessed Ben Sayer near the Morpeth penalty area and forced Dryden into making a save.

The Highwaymen broke down the other end of the field moments later and went close through Walton, who headed just over the bar.

Michael Chilton replaced Carr with just over 20 minutes remaining, and Morpeth’s best chance of the game fell his way.

Sayer’s deep free-kick was met by the head of Chilton, who headed down and straight at the ‘keeper.

Rutherford had his head in his hands on 80 minutes, as the forward, who was in acres of space, headed wide of the goal at the back post.

Chris Reid kept Morpeth’s clean-sheet intact when he made a last-gasp challenge to block Rutherford’s shot just outside the six-yard box minutes later.

Berwick Rangers: Brennan, Notman (Cook, 84), Phillips (Orru, 76), Stewart, Scullion, Fleming, Thompson (Gillan, 86), Irving, Rutherford (Helm, 84), McKenna (Chapman, 76), Murrell (Page, 50)

Subs Not Used: McCrorie

Morpeth Town: Dryden, Carson, Turner, Sayer, Pell (Coppen, 46), Reid, Taylor (Woodhead, 75), Graydon (Phillips, 46), Johnson (Walton, 46), Carr (Chilton, 70), Fry

Subs Not Used: None

Referee: David Dickinson

Assistants: David McKniff and Mark Rennie

Attendance: 280