Morecambe continue their pre-season campaign with victory over Championship side Bolton
Morecambe continued their pre-season campaign with a victory over Championship side Bolton on a windy summer’s evening at the Globe Arena.
After a slow start, Morecambe had the first major chance of the game just after a quarter of an hour when a crossfield ball from Tom Barkhuizen found Molyneux whose shot was deflected wide by Aaron Wildig.
The Shrimps’ then looked to up the pressure just minutes later when a Paul Mullin shot was parried by former Manchester United keeper Ben Amos and scrambled to safety by the Bolton defence.
A powerful Lee Molyneux free kick from an acute angle was saved at the near post by Amos as the game approached the half hour mark. At the other end former England international Emile Heskey laid the ball back for Stephen Dobbie to fire wide from inside the penalty area.
The visitors took the lead in the 32nd minute when the ball was played through by Neil Danns to Dobbie who fired past Barry Roche despite the Morecambe players appeals for offside and Bolton nearly doubled their lead five minutes later when youngster Tom Walker smashed the ball against the outside of the post after a neat bit of passing inside the Morecambe penalty area.
The Shrimps’ equalised in the 40th minute when Lee Molyneux switched the ball to Paul Mullin out wide. Mullin squared the ball for the advancing Aaron Wildig who side-footed the ball home to finish off a great bit of play. Bolton had a couple of chances to go back in front just before the break but the half-time whistle sounded and both sides went in level after an entertaining first half.
The Shrimps’ took the lead early in the second half when Paul Mullin pounced on a poor backpass from Bolton defender Derik Osede and slid the ball past Amos. Molyneux had a shot from outside the area comfortably saved as Morecambe dominated the early stages.
Tom Walker rattled the crossbar as the visitors looked to get back in the game, both managers then rang the changes as they looked to give their squads playing time.
The mass of changes impacted upon the game which stagnated as it drew to a close. Kelleher shot over the bar just before the final whistle as the game fizzled out. Nevertheless, a productive run out for The Shrimps’ against Championship opposition as they continue their preparations for the new season.
Morecambe : Roche, Beeley (McGowan 61), Dugdale (Doyle 75), Parrish (Edwards 61), Wilson (Bondswell 80), Kenyon (Goodall 61), Wildig (Fleming 61), Murphy (Bailey 73), Barkhuizen (Devitt 61), Molyneux (Ellison 61), Mullin (Kelleher 75).
Subs not used: Thompson, Pritchard.
Bolton Wanderers: Amos, White, Dervite (Wilson 62), Osede (Taylor 62), Moxey (Twardzik 70), Spearing, Danns (Vela 70), Pratley (Feeney 62), Dobbie, Walker (Hall 77), Heskey (Madine 62).
Sub not used: Fitzsimons.