PITCHING IN NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE

MORPETH Town manager Craig Lynch hailed two-goal hero Andrew Johnson after he helped his side earn a point in their Premier Division home game against Stafford Rangers.

The former Ashington and Spennymoor Town forward gave his in-form side the perfect start when he fired them in front with just six minutes on the clock.

However, the Highwaymen looked to be heading for a first defeat in almost three months when the visitors overturned the deficit with goals from Joe Kenton and Thomas Tonks.

Johnson would have the final word as he grabbed a share of the points when he doubled his tally for the day with just two minutes remaining.

After the game, Town manager Craig Lynch told the club website: “He’s probably one of the best finishers in the league. He goes through, you turn around because you know he’s going to score.

“The first one was a brilliant finish, the second one, he was in the right place and it’s a tidy finish.

“He keeps the run going, he’s a player that plays with confidence and he is playing every week and scoring goals.”

Shildon remain in third place in the East Division table despite being held to a 2-2 home draw by Stocksbridge Park Steels.

The visitors took the lead on the half-hour with a goal from Ross Goodwin but it was the Railwaymen that took a lead into half-time as Billy Greulich-Smith and home debutant Sam Barker found the net.

That looked to have done enough to secure the points for Shildon – but they were to be denied as Lee Cooksey head home an equaliser for the Steels five minutes from time.

Stockton Town lie one point and one place behind Shildon after Michael Roberts, Kevin Hayes and Jamie Owens all netted in their impressive 3-0 win at Frickley Athletic.

Dunston UTS remain 12 points adrift of the play-off places following their 1-1 draw at Ossett United.

Michael Pearson put Chris Swailes’ side ahead two minutes after half-time but the points were shared after Aaron Haswell grabbed an equaliser for the hosts just before the hour mark.

Hebburn Town moved to within four points of the top eight as a Connor Bell goal gave them a narrow home win against bottom-of-the-table Sheffield.