Morpeth Town ended their away league campaign with a 3-2 loss at Ilkeston Town in the Pitching In NPL Premier Division.

A destructive 15-minute spell after half-time did the damage for the visitors, who had cancelled out Thomas Marshall’s opener on 23 minutes with a 29th minute Danny Barlow free-kick. But a slow start to the second half saw Jonathan Wafula score on 51 minutes before Tom Cursons scored on 61 minutes to give his side some breathing space. Jack Foalle reduced the deficit on 78 minutes but it wasn’t enough.

Christian Lynn made way for Vinnie Steels at left-back, with Barlow restored to the starting line-up in place of Ryan Donaldson and Sam Hodgson up top as Nic Bollado settled for a place on the bench.

Town started well enough in an even opening between two sides with no relegation or promotion prospects on the cards heading into the final week of the campaign.

With a feel of an end of season game about it, both sides looked to throw caution to the wind. It nearly paid dividends when Marshall was booked for hauling Hodgson down when potentially through on goal. On another day it could have been red.

But the striker couldn’t find the target with his free-kick just after, bending it wide of the target.

Morpeth stopper Dan Lowson saved comfortably on 13 minutes before the ball bounced across the six-yard box on 19 minutes prior to Jeff Henderson hooking it clear.

The hosts would take the lead on 23 minutes as Morpeth failed to pick up Marshall from a corner, with the centre-back rising unopposed to head into the back of the net.

But that goal would be cancelled out six minutes later through Barlow. The midfielder won a free-kick in a central position and found the back of the net from the set-piece to level matter, deservedly so.

Town could have been ahead on the stroke of half-time but the ball pinballed around the box before Andrew Johnson’s volleyed deflected agonisingly wide.

A strong end to the first half wasn’t built on by the Highwaymen as the conceded two goals in 16 minutes at the start of the second.

Wafula registered the first on 52 minutes, after Lowson had saved smartly twice to deny the home side. But Morpeth would be denied an equaliser on 58 minutes when Foalle was adjudged to be offside when nodding in at the back post. A debatable decision.

Cursons lashed home on 61 minutes to put Ilkeston clear before Foalle reduced the deficit on 76 minutes when Foalle collected a long ball over the top before turning and firing in off the far post.

Although Foalle would lash over the bar from the right side in the closing, and Johnson would bend a shot straight at the keeper, it wasn’t to be for the Highwaymen as they ended life on the road for this season with a defeat.

Town are next in action on the final day of the campaign when welcoming Stafford Rangers to Craik Park on Saturday (3pm).

ILKESTON TOWN: Yates, Perch (King 61’), Walker, D.Eratt-Thompson, Marshall, Minkley, Brandy, Dixon (Marshall 68’), Cursons, Miekle, Wafula (White 61’).

SUBS: K.Eratt-Thompson, Cox.

MORPETH TOWN: Lowson, Robson, Steels (Lynn 66’), Dowling (Donaldson 78’), Henderson, Wombwell, Foalle, Barlow, Hodgson, John (Bollado 62’), Johnson.

SUBS: Boyd, Griggs.

ATT: 837