Morecambe 3-1 Stoke City
The Shrimps produced a fine performance as they clinched their first win of the new Checkatrade Trophy competition with victory over 10-man Stoke City
Jack Dunn, Cole Stockton and Peter Murphy all scored in an opening period that saw Stoke's Liam Edwards sent off before Charlie Adam pulled one back early in the second half to set up a nervous final 40 minutes.
Although the win was welcome it certainly came at a cost however as the Shrimps ended with 10 men as well after losing Dean Winnard who was stretchered off with a groin injury late in the game after already losing Aaron Wildig, Ryan Edwards and Alex Kenyon to injury.
It was certainly an evening to forget for Stoke’s Liam Edwards who was at fault for the opening goal and was sent off on the quarter-hour.
Edwards gifted the Shrimps a third minute lead as Dunn capitalised on a horrendous error to finish confidently past Jakob Haugaard.
The woodwork kept out Adam’s free kick before the game changed completely moments later when Edwards was sent off for an awful challenge on Wildig.
It wasn’t the last rough challenge on the Shrimps’ midfielder before half-time, though two others resulted in goals. Adam’s late challenge on Wildg didn’t prevent Stockton from getting the better of the defence to slot past Haugaard.
Then, with half-time approaching, Haugaard clattered into Wildig in trying to cut out Aaron McGowan’s ball forward, only for Murphy to tap into an empty net.
In contrast, the second half was one where the visitors enjoyed a greater share of possession.
Adam pulled a goal back from 25 yards three minutes into the second half and then tested Nizic on several occasions . The Autstralian keeper then turned an Oliver Shenton shot behind and Mame Biram Diouf headed off target.
Dunn and Stockton were off target for the Shrimps, before Phil Bardsley twice fired wide before the final whistle.
Morecambe: Nizic, Ryan Edwards (Barkhuizen 54), Winnard, Whitmore, McGowan, Murphy, Kenyon (Rose 69), Wildig (Turner 48), Molyneux, Dunn, Stockton. Not used: Roche, Wakefield, Mullin, Massanka.
Stoke City: Haugaard, Bardsley, Liam Edwards, Muniesa, Renee-Pringle, Molina, Adam, Taylor, Ngoy, Diouf, Shenton (Telford 72). Not used: Jarvis, Isted, Sweeney, Waddington.
Referee: Andy Haines
Attendance: 686.