Morpeth Town suffered Emirates FA Cup heartbreak as a solitary strike saw them exit the competition at Whitby Town.

Jacob Gratton found the back of the net from the penalty spot just before the hour-mark as the Highwaymen’s performance failed to be rewarded with the positive outcome it deserved.

Josh Robson and Liam Miller returned in the full-back positions, with Chris Reid’s partner about to give birth and Ryan Wombwell returned to the bench after a solid display during the week at home to Guiseley.

Both sides started with promise but it was the visitors, and their high press, that was causing problems for the home team, who struggled to play the ball out of defence as Danny Barlow in particular forced numerous errors and possession being given away.

But the first chance of the game would fall the way of goalscorer Gratton, who was denied by the hugely impressive Dan Lowson in the Morpeth goal.

Jack Foalle blazed over the top on 10 minutes as a front three, supported by an industrious midfield trio, hustled and bustled to good effect.

One of the best chances of the game would fall to Andrew Johnson on 12 minutes but the winger, when played in on the left side of the box, failed to beat Shane Bland in the Whitby goal.

The hosts would lash over from close range on 14 minutes before Foalle, again working the left-back hard, saw a cross deflected goalward. Bland rather awkwardly kept it out. From the resulting corner, Michael Turner saw a glancing header slide inches past the far post.

By this point, Morpeth were enjoying significant spells on the front foot without finding a decisive opener, something that would return to haunt them at the full-time whistle.

A succession of blocked shots in the area eventually allowed Bland to gather before the half ended with a series of dangerous deliveries into the penalty area by the visitors which just couldn’t be turned goalwards with enough force to break the deadlock.

Whatever was said in the home dressing room clearly did the trick as Whitby improved their tempo at the start of the second half.

More of a threat after the interval, Junior Mondal fired a fierce effort straight at Lowson, prior to the 59th minute award of a penalty that looked incredibly soft.

Gratton slotted the spot-kick low to Lowson’s right side to give Whitby a slender advantage.

Morpeth immediately set about creating a leveller and could have restored parity seconds after conceding when Vinnie Steels, back after a few weeks out injured, worked his way off the flank before his near post strike was pushed clear by Bland, once again denying the Highwaymen.

Turner forcefully headed straight at Bland on 63 minutes, with Henderson’s follow up blocked.

As the game descended into a frantic finale, Miller superbly denied the home side a certain goal with a phenomenal goal-line block on 65 minutes, with Steels seeing a shot deflected over on 80 minutes. Robson was then prevented from scoring by a deflection on his shot across goal from the right hand side.

But as stoppage time came and went, Whitby should have scored a second but Lowson superbly saved to keep his side in the game.

Ultimately it would be in vain as Morpeth bowed out at the Third Qualifying Round stage. The Highwaymen are next in action on Tuesday night when travelling to Ashton United.

WHITBY TOWN: Bland, Smith, Haswell, Gell, Rowe, Beeden, Doherty, Hawkins, Fewster (Greaves 54’), Gratton (Fergus 88’), Mondal (Griffiths 74’).

SUBS: Simpson, Cranston, Spenceley, Scaife.

MORPETH TOWN: Lowson, Robson (Wombwell 88’), Miller, Jenkins, Henderson (c), Turner, Foalle (Steels 55’), Noble, Hodgson, Barlow, Johnson.

SUBS: Donaldson, Sayer, Thomson.

ATT: 657