Pitmen put to sword by slimmest of margins

MORPETH Town had to dig deep to earn their first three points of the season on an afternoon which “exhausted” manager Craig Lynch.

- By Luke Duden

‘The Highwaymen succumbed to one-goal deficits in their opening three games of the Northern Premier League campaign to leave them unflatteringly perched in the bottom three before a ball was kicked at 3pm.

Will Dowling drilled his second-half effort in off the post in what proved to be the difference maker for the Northumbrians, who this time enjoyed being on the right side of a result with little to separate the two sides.

Before kickoff, solidarity was shown with Morpeth’s near-neighbours, Ashington. A minute of silence was perfectly observed to commemorate the life of huge Colliers’ fan Craig Dickinson, who sadly passed away earlier this week.

Hednesford Town started the better side, spurning two early chances, with headers from both Jonathan Edwards and Akheem Rose unable to find the target.

A tactical change from Lynch saw Morpeth drop deeper and play more compact, to deal with the physical threat of The Pitmen, who boasted imposing figures across the park.