Morpeth Town succumbed to a 3-1 defeat at home to Bamber Bridge in the Pitching In NPL Premier Division.

Vinnie Steels got the Highwaymen off to the ideal start but Danny Edwards’ double turned the game around before Jack Baxter ensured all three points for the visitors.

Town started in the ascendency and hit the front with the first attack of note on two minutes. Sam Hodgson turned and played a handy looking ball down the right that Steels strode on to before competently slotting in at the near post.

Bamber Bridge found a foothold in the game and perhaps should have been level on nine minutes when Harry Scarborough found a clear sight of goal. But the forward dragged his shot across goal and wide of the target.

Town had the ball in the net on 14 minutes, but the offside flag denied the Highwaymen, with Ryan Wombwell tapping in after Hodgson had latched on to a loose ball and crossed in the area.

Bridge were creating some clear chances and Scarborough found himself clean through once more on 15 minutes. But his effort was cleared by the legs of keeper Dan Lowson.

The two sides were trading chances and Wombwell went close once again on 22 minutes but his glancing header across goal flew just past the far post.

A pivotal moment in the half came in the 37th minute when a superb ball from Steels released Hodgson with a clean run on goal. Although Lamine Toure tried to get back, Hodgson kept going and dinked it just off target.

Then, seconds later, came the equaliser for the visitors through Edwards. The winger latched on to a loose back pass to round Lowson and slot into the empty net.

The Highwaymen kept plugging away and could have had the perfect start to the second half when Michael Turner rose highest from a corner but headed off target.

Nic Bollado bent a 64th minute strike straight at opposition keeper James Pradic before Bridge had the best chance of the half to go ahead when Adam Dodd blazed well over the bar when in the box.

Then, on 72 minutes, Bamber went ahead through Edwards once more. Town would have a chance to equalise when captain Jeff Henderson headed against the bar on 81 minutes, but the result would be put beyond all doubt on 86 minutes when Baxter cut inside and lashed a clean rising strike into the back of the net.

Town are next in action when they travel to Guiseley on Saturday.

MORPETH TOWN: Lowson, Wombwell, Barlow, Donaldson (Dowling 79’), Henderson, Turner, Steels (Foalle 72’), Noble, Hodgson, John (Bollado 35’), Johnson.

SUBS: Lynn, Boyd.

BAMBER BRIDGE: Pradic, Baxter, Dodd, Toure, Wilson, Grand, Edwards (Forbes 84’), Cullen (Potts 70’), Scarborough, Churchman, Leigh.

SUBS: Strawn, Sinclair, Bould.

ATT: 436