Morpeth Town fell to a loss on the road as a 15-minute spell saw the game slip away from them in a 3-1 defeat at Marine in the Pitching In NPL Premier Division.

The Highwaymen have lost their last four, all against sides occupying the top four spots in the division, as part of a punishing sequence of fixtures.

They had taken the lead just after half-time when Danny Barlow’s effort was adjudged to have crossed the line. But they were pegged back on 78 minutes when Sol Solomon equalised, with Fin Sinclair-Smith converting from the spot three minutes later. Bobby Grant netted a late goal to add gloss to the scoreline.

In truth, Morpeth played better than the scoreline suggested, amid blustery conditions that caused chaos whenever the ball left the ground.

Solomon had the best chance of the opening 15 minutes but his rising drive on five minutes was always going over the top.

Then came Marine’s best chance of the first half, on 17 minutes. A cross into the area found Chris Doyle but his header thumped the underside of the bar and dropped the right side of the goal-line…for the Highwaymen.

Town had started fairly well, looking compact and well organised while the front three threatened sporadically on the counter with the wind at their backs.

It was from a long ball over the defence on 29 minutes where Morpeth so nearly found an opening goal; Sam Hodgson was the man to race through on goal but his side-foot chip drifted past the post.

Vinnie Steels, a threat throughout, drilled a shot straight at keeper Bobby Jones on 32 minutes as the half drew to a satisfactory conclusion for the visitors, who remained relatively unflustered thanks to diligent work in midfield.

It was this targeted press that paid dividends for Morpeth’s goal, on 53 minutes, but only after Sinclair-Smith dragged a shot on to the far post seconds earlier.

Town, though, would find the opening goal through the influential Barlow. Putting in a fine shift in the heart of midfield, Barlow drifted into a position of promise on the left side of the area before cutting in and firing a shot in off the underside of the bar. With the referee’s assistant ruling it had crossed the line, the Highwaymen had the goal a promising away day performance deserved.

The visitors had a chance to double their advantage on 72 minutes but Hodgson’s header, following fine wing play from Steels, clipped the top of the bar.

The away side would rue that missed opportunity as Marine equalised on 78 minutes. Soloman delivered with a low finish after a flick in field from a long ball forward.

A chaotic spell saw Marine score again from the spot on 81 minutes – Sinclair-Smith netting – after a soft penalty decision against captain Jeff Henderson.

Town kept plugging away and once again came agonisingly close to a goal on 85 minutes. However, Michael Turner’s turn and shot from 10 yards out cannoned off the crossbar.

As stoppage time ticked by, the home side would confirm their win with Grant smashing home.

Town are next in action when they welcome Worksop Town to Craik Park on Saturday (3pm) in our penultimate home game of the campaign.

MARINE: Jones, Butler, Sass, Gregson (White 62’), Doyle (Waters 61’), Wardle, Sinclair-Smith, Bainbridge, Grant, Solomon, Windsor (Robinson 69’).

SUBS NOT USED: Routledge, Nolan.

MORPETH TOWN: Lowson, King, Robson, Dowling, Henderson (c), Turner, Steels, Barlow (Bollado 70’), Hodgson, John, Johnson (Foalle 58’).

SUBS NOT USED: Wombwell, Donaldson, Boyd.

ATT: 1,222