Cheltenham Town in a 1-0 Home Win That Sees the Shrimps Looking Upwards at the Automatic Promotion Places

Robins Rocked Morecambe beat league leaders Cheltenham Town in a 1-0 home win that sees the Shrimps looking upwards at the automatic promotion places. Sam Lavelle returned to the starting line-up for Morecambe in place of Nathaniel Knight- Percival, with the Shrimps centre-backs trading one game suspensions following back-to-back dismissals. Another enforced personnel switch saw a surprise start for Liam McAlinden, who replaced the injured Alex Kenyon. The latter change resulted in a tactical deviation from Morecambe manager Derek Adams, with the Shrimps opting for two frontmen and a fancy four-man midfield diamond in this fixture – not too dissimilar to how Morecambe finished the game in the win at Whaddon Road earlier in the season. Before Aaron Wildig got the game underway, both sets of players and officials observed a minutes silence in memory of Shrimps stalwart Dickie Danson, who passed away during the week. Dickie had fulfilled various roles at Morecambe FC since becoming second team manager in 1991, and was heavily influential in the clubs youth development programmes. In the opening stages the sides largely cancelled each other out, with both teams not allowing their opponents any time or space on the ball. Cheltenham appeared to be the more patient side, but lacking potency with their passing in the final third. McAlinden was given a sighter for Morecambe, shooting wide but adjudged to have been offside after a slide rule pass from Carlos Mendes Gomes. With 20 minutes on the clock a Liam Gibson nod forwards saw a tussle for possession between Cole Stockton and the Cheltenham defence. The ball was sQueezed through to the edge of the Robins box and into the path of Liam McAlinden. Through on goal McAlinden, perhaps benefiting from the earlier shot on goal, was able to compose himself well and lift a shot over the onrushing Scott Flinders into the net to give the Shrimps a 1-0 lead. Perhaps wary of the threat posed by McAlinden’s pace, Cheltenham responded to going behind by dropping their defensive cover. Shortly after taking the lead, an Aaron Wildig free kick into the Cheltenham box resulted in a goalmouth scramble, which was half cleared to John O’Sullivan who fired over from the edge of the box. O’Sullivan did find the net on 25 minutes via a deflected shot, but saw his effort chalked off by an offside flag in what was a frantic 5 minute period for the Shrimps. Cheltenham continued to look good on the ball, but without making many clear openings of their own or troubling Kyle Letheren in the Morecambe goal. A well worked corner routine saw Lewis Freestone head over the bar from the near post, whilst a cross into the box was just out of reach for Sam Smith who glanced his header harmlessly wide. Two other opportunities on the halftime whistle were well blocked by some alert Morecambe defending, as the Shrimps went into the break a goal to the good. The second half progressed much as the first half had ended, with the visitors pushing forwards for parity. Having enjoyed the lion’s share of possession, chances came and went intermittently. The Robins were ultimately thwarted by a combination of narrow misses, resolute defending and competent goalkeeping. Callum Wright had the best of Cheltenham’s openings after 60 minutes, beating Kelvin Mellor to a cross and heading just over the bar. Liam Sercombe also went close for the Robins, firing narrowly wide with Letheren beaten from 25 yards out. As Cheltenham began to commit players further forward a couple of promising breaks for Morecambe lacked a final pass to create opportunities of their own, and potentially avoid a less nervy finish to the game. Carlos Mendes Gomes headed wide late on, from a ball that was fizzed in by Stephen Hendrie. Having gone into the game looking short of options at the centre-half position, Harry Davis was forced to leave the field after 70 minutes after a clash of heads. This forced the Shrimps into a defensive reshuffle, but it was a setback that did not deter the sides endeavour to keep a clean sheet. The seemingly perennial threat the Ben Tozer long throw-in, a familiar foe over the years, was well marshalled all afternoon as part of an all-round defensive effort from front to back. Morecambe managed the final minutes well to hold on for a hard-fought 1-0 victory courtesy of their only shot on target throughout game. The win puts the Shrimps just a point outside of the automatic promotion places and firmly rooted in the playoff picture. Having seen off the previous leaders Cheltenham, Morecambe travel to the new table toppers Cambridge United on Good Friday looking to avenge a 5-0 defeat to the U’s earlier in the season. As the finishing line starts to come into focus, everything is still on the table for the Reds in what has been a remarkable turnaround for the club in a relatively short space of time. Shrimps: Letheren (GK), Mellor, Davis (68’), Lavelle (C), Gibson, Diagouraga, O’Sullivan (90’), Wildig (C), Mendes Gomes, McAlinden (66’), Stockton. Subs: Halstead (GK), Cooney (66’), Denny, Hendrie (68’), Price, Pringle (90’) MOTM: Liam Gibson – Another solid performance, moved to CB when called upon. Consecutive MOTM displays from the improving Gibson. .

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