Highwaymen ‘shot themselves in the foot’, says boss

MORPETH Town manager Craig Lynch admitted his side ‘shot themselves in the foot’ in their home defeat against Premier Division rivals Bamber Bridge.

The Highwaymen got themselves in front with less than two minutes on the clock as Vinnie Steels collected a stunning pass from Sam Hodgson before keeping his cool to fire home the first goal of the game.

However, a Ryan Wombwell error allowed Danny Edwards to restore parity before half-time and the same player put the visitors in front for the first time with a neat finish on 72 minutes, before a stunning late strike from Jack Baxter ensured Morpeth were beaten for the third consecutive game.

Speaking to The Chronicle, Lynch said: “It was a great start to the game to go one up in the first two minutes but it’s a carbon copy of the Hyde game, it was a big cat and mouse and both teams could have scored.

“It’s another error, we had a spell of the same thing last year where we were cruising and it’s happened again.

“The lads’ heads go when it’s a mistake out of nothing.

“We were trying to force things and they’ve scored two good goals but we have shot ourselves in the foot.”

Stockton Town handed a significant boost to their East Division title hopes after claiming a stunning last-gasp win in their home game with Cleethorpes

Town.

The Anchors were forced to battle back from falling behind twice in the first-half as Michael Fowler and Mikey Roberts cancelled out a brace from Owls striker Josh Walker.

Stephen Thompson looked to have snatched a win for Michael Dunwell’s men when he grabbed the fifth goal of the game with just eight minutes remaining but an injury-time equaliser from Dan Gallimore seemed to have ensured the points would be shared.

There would be one decisive blow as a wonderful effort from in-form winger Kevin Hayes set off wild celebrations from the home faithful as their side secured a dramatic win in a seven-goal thriller.

Newton Aycliffe moved to within two points of the play-off places as Brian Atkinson’s men battled to a 2-1 win at Winterton Rangers.

The Northern League champions claimed all three points as Liam Adamson and Cole Kiernan scored either side of an equaliser from Rangers midfielder Clay Bryant.

And Ashington made it a perfect day for the North East’s East Division contingent as they recovered from falling behind to secure a win in their visit to Grimsby Borough.

Caine Winfarrah put the hosts in front just after the quarter-hour point but Ian Skinner’s men battled back to take the honours with goals from Ben Sampson and Connor Thomson.