By Andrew McDonnell (@AndrewSJourno)

Mark Davison scored on his return to the side as Morpeth Town picked up an impressive 2-1 win over National League North side Spennymoor Town.

The visitors took the lead through an own goal from Chris Reid, but the hosts responded quickly and equalised in similar fashion when Joe Tait turned into his own net just three minutes later.

Morpeth matched a talented Spennymoor side pound-for-pound throughout the game, and managed to find a late winner through Davison – the forward struck home at the back post on 88 minutes.

Nick Gray and Dave Malone’s side were certainly given a great test at Craik Park and now have under 48 hours till the game with Blyth AFC on Thursday evening.

The Highwaymen came into the game off the back of a brilliant display against a Sunderland XI on Friday night, but it was the visitors who began the game strongly at Craik Park.

Andrew Johnson wriggled away from challenges from Walton and Phillips before forcing Karl Dryden into making a good save down to his right.

Tait’s header from the resulting corner was cleared off the line by Stephen Forster before David Dowson headed wide all inside the first five minutes.

Johnson went close once more, curling at goal, and Jake Orrell’s header, from inside the area, was pushed onto the bar by Dryden.

Morpeth’s first opening came midway through the first-half, a flowing move that started from that back ended with Danny Carson striking at goal.

Just after the half-hour mark, Joe Walton laid the ball off to Liam Henderson, whose first-time effort was pushed away by ‘keeper Jordan Porter.

The deadlock was broken seven minutes before half-time, Kallum Griffiths intercepted Wayne Phillips’ pass on halfway and drove forward.

The ball was worked back to Robert Ramshaw, who drove past two players before drilling a low cross into the area, which Reid turned into his own net.

However, the hosts didn’t have to wait long before they drew level, as Carson’s delightful through ball found Henderson, whose cross was turned into his own net by Tait at the near post.

Morpeth came out the blocks quickly in the second half, Sean Taylor tested the ‘keeper from range before Shane Henry struck wide for the visitors.

The Moors were pressing once more, David Foley fired into the side netting before Forster kept Orrell’s shot out of the net – Curtis Coppen swept away the loose ball.

Tait and substitutes Glen Taylor and Mark Anderson missed the target in the next 15 minutes, but the hosts were more than holding their own against the National League North outfit.

Griffiths fired a free-kick inches wide of the post 10 minutes from time, and with minutes to go, the Highwaymen struck a decisive blow.

Ben Sayer lofted the free-kick to the far post, and substitute Davison, who was making his first appearance of pre-season, drilled the ball home from close range.

Morpeth could have had another in the dying embers of the game, as Taylor led the break out from the back, and Luke Carr’s shot was covered by the ‘keeper.

The Highwaymen’s next game is against Northern League Division Two side Blyth AFC, who were formerly known as Blyth Town, on Thursday evening.

Morpeth Town: Dryden, Forster, Turner, Carson, Reid (Pell, 84), Coppen, Taylor, Sayer, Henderson (Davison, 46), Phillips (Carr, 68), Walton (Fry, 60)

Subs Not Used: Woodhouse, Johnson, Hiftle

Spennymoor Town: Porter, Griffiths, Mason, Ramshaw, Tait, Curtis, Mitchell (Anderson, 55), Henry, Dowson (Taylor, 55), Orrell, Johnson (Foley, 55)

Referee: Peter Osgood

Assistants: Peter Holleran and Ryan Kendal

Attendance: 238