Morpeth were the better side in a first half which admittedly lacked clear-cut chances.
Harry Flatters produced a double save on 7 mins to deny Jarrett Rivers when played through. The visitors were causing problems for Garforth along the flanks and there was an opening for teammate Aaron Chungh when making his way into the box from the right but he could only bring a routine save.
After a slow start Garforth started to enjoy more possession but without threatening the Highwaymen goal.
Chungh was in with another chance on 29 mins after Ryan Chater’s corner kick was half-cleared to the edge of the box, but his low strike went wide.
Soon after, a Chater header from a delivery floated into the box landed on the roof of the net. Five minutes before the break Louis Burns’ strike was straight at Flatters after another ball into the box was half-cleared.
There were calls for a Garforth penalty in first half injury time when Mutty Al-Jahadhmy looked to have been fouled in the box, but the referee was unmoved and play continued. It was a tackle that Morpeth fullback Josh Robson never recovered from leading to his replacement at half time.
A change in formation saw Town come out for the second half looking the more likely to open the scoring, against the initially subdued visitors. Jamie Barkway’s header at the far post from Max Tweddle’s corner kick on 47 mins was saved by Morpeth keeper Daniel Langley. Three minutes later The Miners did find the net. A ball into the box found Charlie Marshall whose shot was blocked, but the ball came to James Burgess who scored with a low drive the keeper got his foot to but couldn’t keep out. Another for Town's rejuvenated striker who finds the net for the fifth successive game.
Burns was unfortunate not to equalise for the visitors on 55 mins when his arrowed strike from a tight angle came off the crossbar. The rebound fell to substitute Jay Mason who could only blaze over. Another opening for the midfielder eight minutes later saw his strike deflected over by the head of a Miners defender.
An impressive “Mutty Junior” did well on 67 mins to create a chance for Charlie Marshall who headed over the bar his ball into the box. A Town counter attack a minute later deserved a goal with Mutty Al-Jahadhmy and James Burgess exchanging passes but the resulting effort from Al-Jahadhmy was denied by a good block from Max Monoghan.
A Morpeth free-kick 20 yards from goal on 70 mins looked dangerous, but Burns could only fire well over the bar. On 75 mins a Tweddle free-kick down the other end found Burgess who’s header was just off-target.
The Miners had had to dig in to maintain their narrow lead, but they made the points safe with a second three minutes from time. The ball was played down the left to Burgess, and with keeper Langley well away from his goal, hit low into the net from the edge of the box to score his second of the game and tenth of the season.
There was one more chance for the visitors as the 90-minute mark approached – Daniel Barlow firing over the bar from a narrow angle after beating a man on the left.
A hard-fought victory for The Miners who arguably rode their luck a little, but managed to find the quality in front of goal to make it three home games unbeaten. We hit the road next Saturday for a first ever visit to Beverley Town (kick-off 3pm).
Town Team: Flatters, White, Tweddle, Emery, Tilsley, Barkway (c), M.F. "Mutty Junior" Al-Jahadhmy, Allerton (Johnson 89), Burgess (Jeff 90), Marshall (Hogg 71), M. Al-Jahadhmy (McAleese-Shorney 88). Unused: Bedford.
Cautions: Allerton 65.
Attendance: 411.