Northallerton Town 2 Morpeth Town 1

NORTHALLERTON Town joint manager Stuart Dawson was full of praise for his side following this 2-1 home victory over Morpeth Town.

This was Town's first win of the season and Dawson said: "This was a great team performance over a very good Morpeth side that have made a strong start to the season and have produced some good results so far.

"What particularly pleased me was our defending as Morpeth put us under tremendous pressure at times, but I was particularly impressed at the way we lifted ourselves to come back at them after they equalised midway through the second half.

"The team showed a lot of character and now they have proved that they are a match for any side in this league, the only way for us now is up."

Dawson and his co-manager Martyn Speight handed debuts to former Town favourite, striker John Ryan, who previously played for the club three years ago, and Paul Davies both signed earlier in the week from Guisborough Town, and they also gave a first outing of the season to Sean Joseph who signed for the club during the summer. On the bench was Paul Harrison, a midfielder also signed during the week.

Town, who had to beat Morpeth away from home to avoid relegation in their final game of last season, made a great start to the game when they took the lead in just the sixth minute, after central defender Stuart Jackson towered above the Morpeth defence to powerfully head home from the edge of the six-yard box, following an inch perfect left wing free kick from Joseph.

Morpeth replied and they were denied by the woodwork in the 16th minute when Town keeper Patrick Pisani was deceived by a right wing cross from Paul Willery which crashed against the post, but Pisani reacted well to save the follow-up shot from Paul Haxon.

The visitors enjoyed the better of the play and they were unlucky in the 18th minute when a great 20-yard drive from the right by Chris Rue beat Pisani but, fortunately for Town, Chris Walker was on hand to clear off the line.

In the 29th minute, Morpeth's Alex Benjamin had a great chance but, from a good position in front of goal, he fired wide of the target. Pisani was again in action in the 42nd minute when he made a great save low to his left to keep out a well-struck tenyard drive from Damen Mullen.

Town came back strongly in the closing stages of the half and Morpeth keeper JakWells made a great double save to firstly parry a 15-yard drive from Steve Roberts, and then followed up to keep out an angled shot from John Ryan.

Right on the stroke of halftime, Town almost doubled their lead when a close range strike from Roberts, following a Gary Shardha right wing cross, beat keeper Wells but the ball was cleared off the line by Rue.

Town made a positive start to the second half and Ryan went close with a superb shot, following a good run and cross from Joseph that was deflected just wide of the post.

Morpeth were denied by the woodwork for the second time in the 55th minute when a 30-yard free kick from Mullen hit the foot of the post before Town scrambled the ball to safety.

But the equaliser came three minutes later, when Pisani lost his footing on a heavy surface as he went to collect a high ball into the area from Mark Grant, and could only parry the ball into the path of Alex Benjamin who scored with a simple tap-in.

Pisani excelled himself in the 63rd minute with a great low save to his left to keep out a close range drive from Morpeth substitute Joe Campbell.

After absorbing strong Morpeth pressure, Town came storming back and Shardha had a great chance to restore their lead in the 65th minute when he was clear through on goal, but the ball got stuck between his feet allowing Wells to save. Then, in the 69th minute, Shardha hit a great 15-yard drive which brought an equally great save out of Wells who tipped the ball onto the bar and out of play for a corner.

And from the resulting Shardha right wing flag kick Gabriel Radu had a free header that went inches wide.

But Town weren't to be denied as they scored the winner in the 73rd minute through substitute Scott McNichol, who finished a good move when he fired home with a well-placed shot after being set up by Danny Hanafin.

Town have a rearranged league game tomorrow when they travel to Dunston Federation and on Tuesday they visit Whitley Bay, followed up by a third away game when they visit Tow Law Town on Saturday of next week.

Their next home game is on Wednesday October 1 when Dunston Federation are the visitors.

Kick-off 7-30pm.