BOWLED out for just 109 runs, there was a general feeling that Stocksfield may have blown their chances of closing the gap on the top two in Division A2.

With leaders Tillside skittled out for just 40 against Bedlington and second placed Alnmouth and Lesbury rained off, the huge opportunity to heap the pressure on looked lost after a disappointing batting display.

However, the Stocksfield bowlers had different ideas and a remarkable all-round performance, led by teenage brothers Luke and James Doneathy, saw the visitors grab maximum points which takes them just five off top spot, and two off second.

It was youngest Doneathy Luke who stole the show in particular, his four wickets at crucial points throughout the innings seeing Morpeth's challenge falter at 89.

While the Morpeth track was slow, both teams will be hugely disappointing with the way they batted.

Stocksfield were asked to bat first and got off to a steady start through Jonny Tobin and Dan Whiley, the former batting well for his 17 before being caught leg-side by wicketkeeper Joe Carrick.

Whiley departed soon after as he was run out by Carrick after a mix-up between himself and Ben Archer.

At 27-2, Archer and Luke Doneathy rebuilt the innings with a 41-run partnership to move the score on. Doneathy was looking in great form before returning one to bowler Paul Elliott, the same fate befelling Archer but not before he helped take the score to 89.

But from there, Stocksfield suffered a catastrophic collapse and lost their final seven wickets for just 20 runs.

With Jack Concannon taking four wickets from his six overs, the lower middle order with Chris Patterson, Sam Beedle, Andy Wood and James Doneathy falling foul to his bowling.

Matt Bewick then departed to a delivery from James Sander, but a final wicket stand of seven between Chris Scandle and Aaron Rourke stemmed the quick fall of wickets and gave Stocksfield slight hope of defending their total.

After news filtered through with regards to the progress of Tillside and Alnmouth, Stocksfield went into the field intent on turning things around.

Openers Luke Doneathy and Scandle were red hot and put the pressure on immediately, and Morpeth opener Adam Lawn was tempted into a run only to be run out by Beedle with the score on two.

The visiting bowlers never let up, and Scandle struck soon after by clean bowling Carrick to take the score to 9-2.

Luke Doneathy got in on the act to see Sander caught by Whiley, with James Doneathy removing David Rutherford with the score on 31-4.

Michael Adamson and Stuart Spiers dug in to tick the Morpeth score on, but the Doneathy brothers struck again with a victim edge to see Morpeth require 47 for the win, with four wickets in hand.

Luke Doneathy capped a great day with both bat and ball as he accounted for both Nathan Byatt and Callum Lawn in quick succession, with Wood returning after an erratic first spell to finish the game off by having Paul Jackson caught by Whiley and then Elliott lbw.