Moors secured safe passage to Third Round Qualifying of the FA Cup thanks to a largely comfortable 3-1 win over Morpeth Town at The Brewery Field.
Glen Taylor returned from injury to score the opener before Rob Ramshaw and Isaac Fletcher both found the net to ensure victory over their Northern Premier League visitors.
Boss Graeme Lee restored Taylor to the starting eleven and was also able to call on influential midfielder Matty Dolan who also shrugged off injury to star against The Highwaymen.
It was Dolan and Taylor who combined for the crucial first goal on 23 minutes. Dolan whipped a dangerous corner in from the left and Morpeth failed to deal with it, allowing Taylor to prod home despite the best effort of former Moors loan keeper Dan Langley in the away side’s net.
Moors doubled their advance on the half hour. Another Dolan corner, this time from the right, was whipped into the front post where Ramshaw arrived to apply a perfect header which flashed past Langley for 2-0.
Morpeth’s cause was further hindered by the loss of captain Jeff Henderson early in the second half when the defender was stretchered off after injuring himself blocking a goalbound Taylor drive.
Moors made their place in the next round safe on 72 minutes when Callum Ross stood a cross up to the penalty spot from the right and Fletcher unleashed an unstoppable volley to further underline his outstanding start to the new season.
Luke James did manage to pull a goal back for the visitors five minutes from time when his long-range shot slipped through the fingers of Moors keeper Jono Mitchell.
However, that never looked likely to begin a comeback and it will be Graeme Lee’s men who take their place in the draw for Third Round Qualifying on Monday.
Full Time: Moors 3 Morpeth Town 1
Moors: Mitchell, Dyson, Ledger, Rowe (Beals 34), Staunton, Ross, Dolan, McKeown (Mondal 69), Ramshaw, Fletcher, Taylor (Harris 80).
Subs not used: James, Myers, Hooper, Bayat.
Booked: Ledger (45), Fletcher (77).
Morpeth Town: Langley, Evans, Henderson (King 55 (Taylor 90)), Wombwell, Robson, Hickey (Dowling 55), John, Barlow, Foalle, Bollado (Buddle 80), James.
Subs not used: Mallaburn, Davison.
Booked: Barlow (78)
Referee: Samuel Ross
Attendance: 563
