10 man Morecambe outclassed by League 2 title candidates
Morecambe: Arestidou; Edwards, Hughes, Parrish; Beeley (Stewart 49), Wright (Kenyon 63), Fleming, Drummond, Wilson; Ellison, Redshaw (Mullin 84). Subs not used: Devitt, Goodall, McGoawn, Amond.
Bookings: Drummond, Redshaw. Sent off: Arestidou.
Shrewsbury: Leutwiler, Grandison, Woods, Ellis, Goldson, Collins (Mangan 84), Lawrence, Gayle, Grant, Akpa-Akpro (Barnett 84), Sharpe (Demetriou 90). Halstead, Vernon, Southern, Mandron.
Bookings: Grant.
Ten man Morecambe fell to their fourth successive home loss with a frustrating 4-1 defeat at the hands of high-flying Shrewsbury.
Despite a poor start from the Shrimps, Jack Redshaw handed the home side a 1-0 lead on 27 minutes, but the visitors responded well, scoring quickfire goals through Connor Goldson and James Collins to go 2-1 ahead after 34 minutes.
Soon after the break, Shrimps 'keeper Andreas Arestidou was shown a red card for a last-man challenge on Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro.
The ten man hosts battled well as they looked to get back into the match, but Town stood firm and doubled their advantage through Jermaine Grandison on 84 minutes before Tyrone Barnett added extra gloss to the scoreline deep into injury time.
Morecambe boss Jim Bentley made two changes from his side's 1-0 defeat against Hartlepool on Saturday, with Ryan Edwards and Stewart Drummond coming into the starting 11 in place of Padraig Amond and Paul Mullin.
However, the hosts suffered a slow start, with errors in possession helping the visitors, who now sit second in the table, to take control.
But, against the run of play, Redshaw put the home side ahead on 27 minutes.
After a long free kick downfield from Mark Hughes on half way, the ball was flicked on by Kevin Ellison towards Andy Wright who neatly turned the ball into the path of Redshaw and, with the home side's first shot on target, he managed to squeeze the ball under Jayson Leutwiler to open the scoring
Six minutes later, the visitors were level.
It was Jermaine Goldson who struck, but there was an element of luck about the strike. Mark Hughes hacked the ball off the line and his clearance rebounded off Beeley and into the path of Goldson who fired home.
And seconds later, the visitors were ahead, James Collins planting the ball past Andreas Arestidou from the penalty spot after Grandison's cross.
The Shrimps responded well to the setback, Hughes and Ellison trying their luck soon after, but Town 'keeper Leutwiler was equal to both strikes and the visitors held a one goal going into the break.
Morecambe enjoyed a bright start to the second half with Redshaw beating two men before shooting wide, but Arestidou saw red shortly after.
On 48 minutes, Stewart Drummond sliced a back pass into the path of Akpa Akpro and the Shrimps stopper left a leg in the path of the Shrews man who went to ground on the edge of the area.
Referee Stuart Atwell had no hesitation in producing the card.
Shaun Beeley was sacrificed, with Tom Stewart coming on to make his Football League debut.
Switching to a 4-4-1 formation, the Shrimps produced a spirited response to the 'keeper's dismissal and enjoyed a good spell of possession as Town sat back.
But the visitors remained a threat on the break and Grandison sealed the points on 83 minutes, curling past Tom Stewart after jinking past two Shrimps defenders.
Then Barnett fired in on the hooter to give the scoreline a convincing look.
The Shrimps will be looking to bounce back on Saturday when they travel to face Carlisle.
CLB Coopers Man of the Match: Mark Hughes.
Attendance: 1,363 (246 away).