Sam Hodgson hit the post late on as Morpeth Town’s comeback fell just short in a 4-3 loss at Atherton Collieries in the Pitching In NPL Premier Division.

The Highwaymen trailed 3-0 as Enock Lusiama, Lewis Thompson and Jordan Scanlon struck before half-time, with Nic Bollado reducing the deficit in first half added time.

Lewis Mansell extended the hosts’ lead from the spot just after the break before a late rally saw Hodgson and Fenton John bring Town within one goal.

The game started in fairly even fashion, with both sides settling into a game that was never going to be vintage on a surface soft under foot and churning up from the off.

But the home side would break the deadlock on 12 minutes, Lusiama finding space on the right side of the area before drilling a low shot across Dan Lowson to give Atherton the lead.

Then came a great chance for Morpeth to level when Danny Barlow’s floated delivery was chested down into the path of Jack Foalle. But the attacker volleyed a placed effort just past the far post.

Josh King was making a return to the Highwaymen squad after his loan spell at Dunston was cut short as the Highwaymen continue to contend with an injury and suspension crisis.

But his first start for the team this season would last just 27 minutes as a poor Sidi Fofana challenge saw him left in a heap before being substituted.

An Atherton header was cleared off the line on 35 minutes as Morpeth were let off the hook. But that stay of execution would last just two minutes as the home side scored again.

A delivery from the right side of the box evaded everyone but Thompson, who had plenty of time and space to control and fire past Lowson.

It went from bad to worse just before half-time when Scanlon bent a shot into the far corner but Bollado would reduce the deficit in added-on time. The forward reacted quickest to an Andrew Johnson nod down to prod home a goal that at least got his side on the scoresheet before the break.

Needing a solid start to the second half, Morpeth endured the exact opposite as Mansell dusted himself down, after being fouled in the box, to slot confidently into the bottom corner on 53 minutes.

The rest of the game, though, centred on Town reducing the deficit. They did so on 72 minutes when Hodgson, netting his 13th of the campaign, displayed his poacher’s instinct to bundle home a loose ball after the Atherton keeper failed to hold on to a fizzing Ryan Donaldson cross into the area.

With a sense of belief about them, the visitors made it 4-3 on 82 minutes through John. The Middlesbrough loanee, back for a third spell at Craik Park, sent a free-kick into the box that beat everyone before nestling in the back of the net.

Relegation-threatened Atherton were wobbling and on another day Town could have found a late leveller through their leading marksman Hodgson.

The striker’s overhead kick from close range thumped the far post as an 88th minute chance came and, agonisingly, went.

Despite late pressure, the Highwaymen wouldn’t find an equaliser. They’re next in action on Saturday when welcoming Bamber Bridge to Craik Park

ATHERTON: Park, Partington, L.Thompson, Moonan, Ali, D.Thompson, B.Rydel, Fofana, Mansell, Scanlon, Lusiama.

SUBS: King, Caine, Coulton, Putnam, Buckley.

MORPETH: Lowson, Wombwell, Barlow, King (Hodgson 27’), Reid, Turner, Foalle, Donaldson, Bollado (Steels 63’), John, Johnson.

SUBS: Boyd, Dowling.

ATT: 201