Morecambe 0-1 Sheffield Utd
A LAST-GASP goal from Neil Collins broke Morecambe hearts as they bowed out of the Capital One Cup.
The substitute rose above a static Morecambe defence to power home James Wallace’s corner two minutes into stoppage time as Sheffield United reached round two.
The first half ended goalless despite plenty of action in both boxes.
The closest either side went to opening the scoring was when Morecambe midfielder Lee Molyneux hit the foot of the Blades’ post with a 35 yard free kick that whistled past Mark Howard.
The Blades then hit back and wasted two golden chances of their own. Connor Sammon failed to hit the target from 10 yards after being played in behind the Morecambe defence before full back Kieron Freeman volleyed wide from close range when he should have done better.
The home side ended the half on top and caused the United defence a number of problems. Jamie Devitt forced an excellent save from Jamie Devitt’s swirling right foot shot and Ryan Edwards volleyed over from a left wing corner.
The Blades were on top in the early stages of the second half and were denied an opener on 47 minutes by a superb save from Morecambe keeper Barry Roche who spread himself well at the near post to save from substitute Che Adams.
Nigel Adkins’s side maintained the pressure with Roche forced into an excellent save from Freeman’s long range effort.
Kieron Wallace drilled an effort over and Sammon curled one wide of the left hand post before Morecambe went close with an Alex Kenyon header just missing the target.
In the closing stages Devitt was put through on goal but with a man over the Shrimps’ striker produced a poor final ball and the chance went begging.
The game looked set for extra time until Collins popped up at the death to earn the Blades, last year's semi-finalists the win.
Morecambe: Roche, Beeley (capt), Edwards, Parrish, Wilson, Fleming (Ellison 71), Goodall, Devitt, Wildig (Kenyon 57), Molyneux (Miller 79), Mullin. Subs not used: Thompson, McGowan, Ryan, Doyle.
Sheffield United: Howard, Freeman, J Wallace (Reed 90), Basham, McNulty, Scougall, Woolford (Adams 46), Sammon, McEveley (capt), K Wallace, Edgar (Collins 84). Subs not used: Sharp, Higdon, Long, McFadzean.
Referee: Stephen Martin
Attendance: 2,168 (785 away)