Chris Simpkins made his first start of the season to replace an unavailable Tim Robertson, with Ross Shelton moving into defence to cover the also unavailable Simon Rogers.

In the first few minutes of the game things looked promising for the Miners, in the first minute Luke Mangham put a curling strike just wide after being set up by Curtly Martin-Wyatt.

Sadly that was a good as it got in the first half, once Morpeth had settled it was a question of when rather than if, their first goal would arrive. On 6 mins striker Michael Chilton was denied by a crucial challenge by Jassim Alali after being supplied from the left wing. The visitors were stroking the ball around well and looked dangerous from crosses. Garforth struggled to hold onto the ball and seemed to miss Shelton's presence in midfield. Balls forward to the front line were often overhit or easily dealt with by the Highwaymen's defence.

Some good play by Ben Sayer saw him bring a save from Ben Hunter on 14 mins and a move down the left five mins later ended in Sean Taylor shooting over the bar. Taylor came closer in a great chance moments later, Hunter saving his low strike. On 27 mins Luke Carr was put through in the box but Alali was there again with another superb challenge.

On 36 mins though the Northumberland side had the opener; Stephen Forster's pass forward finding Carr who found the far corner of the net with a good finish. And on 44 mins it was 2-0, a delivery across the box was met by a shot from Chilton which defender and Hunter in the goalmouth couldn't keep from trickling over the line.

If the game wasn't safe already for Morpeth, then it definitely was on 56 mins with a well-worked goal, Sayer playing in Chilton to wrong-foot Hunter with a clever flick into the far corner. Chilton almost had a hattrick only seconds later with a low strike just wide of the post.

The introduction of Thomas Smith at half time gave Town more of a presence in midfield, boosted by the addition of subs Sinmi Oyebanji and Ashley Preece just after the hour mark. In between this Mark Simpson looked to have been fouled in the box on 59 mins but shouts for a penalty were waved away by referee Nick Hawksby.

On 64 mins Chilton came close again when set up by Carr inside the box but dinked wide. A minute later great work by Preece down the middle put through Oyebanji to shoot just wide via a deflection. A strong run by Martin-Wyatt on 68 mins brought keeper Karl Dryden's first save of note, the ball coming out to Preece who found space on the edge of the box to shoot narrowly wide.

Despite a spell of Town pressure The Highwaymen weren't quite finished and added a fourth on 75 mins. Another slick piece of football saw sub Steven Anderson pick out an unmarked Taylor to slot home at the far post.

Two minutes later Mangham was unlucky not to grab a consolation after making a brilliant run through the defence, his shot beat Dryden but sadly not David Hiftle who cleared off the line. On 77 mins though home fans finally had something to cheer when a corner into the box was dropped by Dryden, the loose ball falling to Preece who's shot hit Oyebanji and fell into the net.

The last couple of chances fell to the side who's work was done, James Novak's long-range effort was caught by Hunter on 84 mins and two mins from time a Taylor chip from 30 yards narrowly cleared the crossbar.

A professional display by the visitors to see them into the next round where they visit Newton Aycliffe. Our two victories in the league have already shown the potential of Graham Nicholas' side; so now time to bury a bad day at the office and focus on Tuesday's league game which will be with us soon enough!