Morpeth Town ran out 2-1 winners at The UTS Stadium this afternoon after coming from behind. Jack Elliot fired Dunston into the lead midway through the first half before Connor Thomson equalised three minutes later. Andrew Johnson scored the winner on 61 minutes to see the visitors come away with the win.

It was a relatively slow start to the game, perhaps in typical pre-season fashion. Morpeth were reduced to just a couple of half-chances in the opening 20 minutes.

Firstly, a Jake Turnbull clearance which was deflected towards goal from Dale Pearson. Loanee goalkeeper James Anderson was able to get down and make the save. Bailey Geliher followed up minutes later with a long-range volley which sailed high and wide.

On 25 minutes, Dunston made the breakthrough courtesy of Jack Elliott. Sado Djalo picked up the ball after a loose pass from Morpeth. The striker drove forwards and played a sublime pass through to Elliot who kept his composure and stroked the ball past Lowson to give Dunston the lead.

The Highwaymen replied almost instantly after 28 minutes. Connor Thompson was played clean through on goal and fired the ball into the back of the net from inside the box to level the game.

Sado Djalo almost fired Dunston back into the lead with 35 minutes on the clock. The forward received the ball on the edge of box and took aim. His effort on goal was clawed away by Dan Lowson and out for a corner to keep the game all-square heading into the break.

Dunston began the second half brightly with some intricate passing and build-up play which saw Craig Scott hauled down inside the box and a penalty was awarded.

Michael Fowler stepped up but couldn’t hit the target as his shot was blazed high and wide from 12-yards.

Morpeth took the lead for the first time just after the hour-mark. Second half substitute Jack Foalle broke away down the right wing and played the ball into the feet of Andrew Johnson who made no mistake blasting the ball past Anderson.

With both sides making multiple changes throughout the second half, the game didn’t pick up much momentum until the closing stages.

On 82 minutes, Jack Foalle continued to cause problems for the Dunston defence and almost extended Morpeth’s lead. Foalle drove a shot from distance towards goal and Dan Staples, the replacement goalkeeper, tipped the ball over the bar for a corner.

The visitors managed to see the game out and register the win meaning, this was Dunston’s first defeat of pre-season.