By Andrew McDonnell (@AndrewSJourno)

Morpeth Town’s title hopes were dealt a blow after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Ryhope CW on a frustrating afternoon at Ryhope Recreation Park.

Michael Hall struck the crossbar with a brilliant volley midway through the first-half, and Ben Sayer also hit the woodwork four minutes after half-time.

Matthew Grieve latched onto a loose ball in the area and rifled home to break the deadlock for the visitors just after the hour mark.

Danny Lay headed in an equaliser 13 minutes from time and the points were shared after Morpeth negotiated a tricky final period.

Nick Gray and Dave Malone’s side hadn’t been in action since the victory over Newcastle Benfield in mid-January, but came close to going ahead in the opening exchanges.

Liam Henderson picked up the ball on the edge of the area and drove his shot across the face of goal and wide of the far post.

Ryhope could have gone ahead just a minute later when Chris Trewick headed Lee Chapman’s cross over the bar from a good position.

The hosts came within inches of breaking the deadlock on 23 minutes – the ball came to Hall on the full and the centre-half rifled his volley off the crossbar.

Morpeth gathered the rebound and Henderson was denied well by Jonathan Ball’s legs before Joseph Walton’s follow-up from the edge of the area flew just over the bar.

Lay, who trained with the Highwaymen in pre-season, forced Karl Dryden into making a good stop four minutes later – the visitors were holding their own.

The Highwaymen were being frustrated by their Division One counterparts, who had the final chance in the first-half.

Thomas Bott gathered the ball inside the area and his shot deflected, forcing Dryden to change direction and save well before Keith Graydon scrambled the ball clear.

Morpeth’s intensity picked up after the game restarted – having gone in goalless at the break – and they were denied a goal four minutes after the break.

Mark Davison teed up Sayer on the edge of the area, the midfielder struck at goal and was denied by a sublime save by Jonathan Ball, who pushed onto the bar.

Joseph Walton glanced Stephen Forster’s cross inches wide of the post before the Highwaymen struck a decisive blow on 62 minutes.

Ryhope’s ‘keeper done well to get down and save an initial show, but pushed out in front of him, which allowed Grieve to react and strike home from close range.

Davison forced a low save out of Ball, but the visitors responded well after going behind and managed to find an equaliser on 77 minutes.

Chapman’s inch-perfect cross was headed back across goal by Lay and past a helpless Dryden in the Morpeth goal.

It was the hosts who could have went on to snatch all three points from under the nose of the current FA Vase holders, but both Lay and Joseph Melvin curled wide of the target.

The Highwaymen have to pick themselves up and dust themselves off as they travel to Dean Street to face current league champions Shildon on Wednesday night before welcoming West Auckland Town to Craik Park next weekend.

Ryhope CW: Ball, Paxton (Francis, 66), Chapman, Bott, Ryan, Trewick, Davis, Lay, Melvin, Home-Jackson, Munro

Subs Not Used: Pearson, Lowerson, Woods

Morpeth Town: Dryden, Forster, Turner, Sayer, Hall, Grieve, Taylor, Graydon (Doninger, 87), Davison (Morris, 78), Henderson (Chilton, 73), Walton

Subs Not Used: Robinson, Novak

Goals: 0-1, 62 min, Grieve; 1-1, 77 min, Lay.