Stalybridge Celtic 1-2 Morecambe
Pre-Season Friendly
Bower Fold
Tuesday 5 July 2022
Kick-Off: 19:45
Attendance: 369

The Shrimps came from behind to secure a victory in their opening Pre-Season friendly against Stalybridge Celtic.

Derek Adams’ men carved out the first real chance on seven minutes when a drilled ball from Wes McDonald found the feet of Ryan Delaney at the far post, but the defender was unable to produce a shot.

The hosts looked to respond six minutes later when Ozzie Abadaki produced a moment of skill to skip past Donald Love, but the resulting shot was fired well over the target.

Celtic’s efforts would soon be rewarded when, on 21 minutes, Aarron Grewal received the ball on the edge of the box and slotted into the bottom left corner of Connor Ripley’s goal.

Ten minutes later and the Shrimps looked to mount a counterattack as Wes McDonald drove forward before laying the ball off to Caleb Watts who looked to bend one into the top-right corner, but the strike was too powerful.

Four minutes before the half-time break and Watts tried an ambitious effort from distance on the half-volley, but it lacked the power and direction to really test Hall in the home goal.

Half-time: Stalybridge Celtic 1-0 Morecambe

Dylan Connolly looked to equalise for Morecambe on 48 minutes, but his effort from outside the box was saved and held low down by Hall.

Six minutes later and the ball fell inside the area to Watts who was free at the back post, but his fierce strike from close range was blocked by Celtic’s goalkeeper.

Moments after coming on in the 57^th minute, Ryan Cooney managed to breach the opposition defence, but only managed to pull his strike across goal.

A deep cross sent into the mix nine minutes later was headed by Farrend Rawson into the path of substitute Arthur Gnahoua, but the resulting strike was blocked at close range.

Trialist G looked to increase the home side’s advantage on 79 minutes, but the cross from the right courtesy of Ozzie Abadaki was too high.

The Shrimps finally found a breakthrough on 83 minutes when Connolly was brought down in the box, and it was the number 11 who stepped up and made no mistake from 12 yards.

Four minutes later and the comeback was completed as Arthur Gnahoua found himself in possession down the right before unleashing a powerful strike at goal that left Trialist F helpless in the Celtic goal.

Full-time: Stalybridge Celtic 1-2 Morecambe

Stalybridge Celtic: Hall, Harrison, Woods, Trialist A, Trialist B, Summers, Grewal, Padden, Correia, G Abadaki, O Abadaki

Subs: Ubah, Trialist C, Trialist D, Trialist E, Trialist F, Trialist G, Trialist H, Trialist I, Trialist J, Trialist K, Trialist L

Goals: Grewal 21’

Bookings: None

Red cards: None

Morecambe: Ripley (Smith, 57’), Love (Gibson, 57’), Melbourne (Cooney, 57’), Fane, Rawson, Delaney, McDonald (Stockton, 46’), McLoughlin (McLaughlin, 57’) Obika (Gnahoua, 57’), Watts, Connolly

Subs not used: Da Silva Mendes

Goals: Connolly 83’, Gnahoua 87’

Bookings: None

Red cards: None