Stockton Town secured a play-off position with a point in a scrappy game against Morpeth Town.

Nic Bollado opened the scoring within the opening 10 minutes, but Stephen Thompson responded with a nice strike in the 22nd minute.

Michael Dunwell named an unchanged side from the team that won at Prescot Cables last week, but Kev Hayes returned to the bench following suspension.

Morpeth took the lead with the first chance of the game, nine minutes in, when Nic Bollado headed in a cross from the right-hand side.

Michael Sweet nearly equalised 10 minutes later when he connected well with a header, but it just flew over the crossbar.

The Anchors found a leveller in the 22nd minute, when strong hold-up play from Josh Scott led to Stephen Thompson lining up a shot and finding the bottom corner.

Michael Sweet nearly gave the Anchors a lead just before the break when Fenton John found him with a cross, but the winger’s effort was kept out by all six-foot-seven of Dan Langley.

Half-time: Stockton Town 1-1 Morpeth Town

Both sides pushed for the crucial third goal in the opening stages of the second half, and both teams went close early on. Stephen Thompson was first when he lifted a strike over the crossbar, before Daniel Barlow curled a free-kick narrowly over the bar.

The two defensively solid sides shut each other out for most of the game. Sam Hodgson went close for the visitors 10 minutes before the whistle when he poked a shot wide.

Stockton did have two huge chances in stoppage time. First, a cross was headed across goal by Mikey Roberts but was unable to be controlled by Josh Scott. Then, seconds later, Lewis King charged into the box and met a cross with his head, but it flew inches wide.

Full-time: Stockton Town 1-1 Morpeth Town