A single Joe Walton goal on the stroke of half-time was enough for Morpeth Town to claim all three points at Carlton Town.
In a game of few chances, Walton’s clinical finish was the difference between the two sides in a tight Evo-Stik East encounter.
Morpeth started with Walton in a striking role to fill the void left by Liam Henderson, who was suspended following his red card at Brighouse Town the previous week.
It was the winger/striker who was involved in the first real chance of the game in the third minute when he failed to convert a rebound after Sean Taylor’s effort, when clean through, was blocked by Carlton’s keeper Jack Steggles.
It was a fleeting chance in an opening of few opportunities, with Morpeth pressing from the off in search of an early breakthrough under blue skies and sunshine.
The next chance of any note wouldn’t arrive until the 42nd minute in a game which Morpeth were dominating in terms of possession, if not the score-line. Walton was the man to strike the woodwork as he strode clear of the home defence before beating the keeper. However, he was denied before Tom Potter spurned the follow-up.
The visitors were beginning to turn the screw and so nearly found the opening goal on the stroke of half-time but Taylor’s deflected effort flew wide.
However, the visitors would find the opener just before half-time, Walton lashing home into the bottom corner as the Highwaymen went in at the interval content with their first half efforts.
In a quiet second half with chances at a premium, Taylor’s 69th minute shot was pushed clear by Steggles, with Dimitris Tsapalos kept on his toes by Robbie McNicholas’ effort.
The Greek keeper wouldn’t see the end of the game as he hobbled off, with scorer Walton donning the gloves for the second time in three games for the Highwaymen. He wasn’t called upon, but David Carson did beat Steggles, with his shot in added time cleared off the line as the visitors sought a decisive second.
But Morpeth saw the game out to claim a seventh straight victory in league and cup. They are next in action on Tuesday night when they make the trip to AFC Mansfield (7.45pm).

CARLTON TOWN: Steggles; Robinson, Ebanks, Bertram (Stovell 74), Ikwa, Walker, McNicholas, Clark, Blake, Hutchinson (c), Austin.
SUBS NOT USED: Moore, Clarke, Motshweni, Opoku.
GOALS:
MORPETH TOWN: Tsapalos (Graydon 88); Forster, Turner, Sayer (c), Petrache, J.Henderson, Taylor (Ward 83), Hodgson, Walton, Dav Carson, Potter (Phillips 72).
SUBS NOT USED:
GOALS: Joe Walton (45)
ATT: 80