Shrimps host in form Rovers

5 April 2024

Doncaster Rovers are our visitors at the Mazuma Mobile Stadium on Saturday 6 April, as we look to pick up where we left off after a fantastic set of Easter weekend performances.

The Shrimps will be looking to make it three wins in three as they host Doncaster Rovers at the Mazuma Mobile Stadium on Saturday afternoon, as they enter crunch time in their Sky Bet League Two campaign.

Morecambe will be going into the fixture full of confidence, after their two Easter weekend results will have undoubtedly provided a boost in the camp after a string of poor results in March.

Good Friday saw the Shrimps make the short trip across Lancashire to rivals Accrington Stanley. A vicious Nelson Khumbeni strike and a Charlie Brown free kick secured a memorable derby day victory for Morecambe, Lewis Shipley’s 89^th minute goal nothing more than a consolation in the end.

On Easter Monday, it was another derby day for Ged Brannan’s men. This time, Barrow AFC were the opponenets, making the trip around Morecambe Bay to the Mazuma Mobile Stadium. The Shrimps led by two goals to nil after just 11 minutes, thanks to goals from Dave Tutonda and Gwion Edwards. In the second half, Barrow piled on the pressure, but the Morecambe defence remained resilient – the side grinding out a 2-1 victory following a late Ben Whitfield goal for the visitors.

Morecambe vs Barrow 1st April-31.jpg

It was a successful Easter period for the Rovers, who also go into Saturday’s fixture on the back of two wins. On Good Friday, they overcame play-off hopefuls Crawley Town, with a 2-0 win thanks to goals from Hakeeb Adelakun and Maxime Biamou, while Owen Bailey was the hero on Tuesday when they beat Wrexham AFC 1-0.

Saturday’s two sides last met in December, when Morecambe made the trip over to the Eco-Power Stadium. It will be an afternoon that Shrimps’ fans will no doubt remember, their side leaving Yorkshire with all three points after putting five goals past the Rovers. Eli King opened the scoring, before a Michael Mellon brace and goals from Jacob Bedeau and Dave Tutonda topped off a five-star performance from Ged Brannan’s men.

The Opposition

Despite a difficult start to their campaign in League Two, Doncaster Rovers have had a resurgence in recent weeks that has ensured their safety in the division. The side failed to win in their first seven fixtures of the campaign and were bottom of the table come the middle of September.

Since then, they have had a steady season and are finishing strong, only losing once since the start of February. In this period, they have picked up eight wins, and Grant McCann’s side are currently on a five-game winning streak.

McCann has been in charge at the Eco-Power Stadium since May and is in his second stint in charge of the South Yorkshire club. In his first stint with the Rovers, during the 2018-19 season, the ex-Northern Ireland international guided them to the League One play-offs, where they were defeated by Charlton Athletic.

Key Players

Centre-forward Joe Ironside has been a dangerous asset in the Rovers front line this season, the 30-year-old scoring 18 goals and assisting six in his 47 appearances for the side. Ironside joined the club in the summer of 2023, after spending three years at Cambridge United.

In the January transfer window, winger Hakeeb Adelakun joined the side on loan from Lincoln City. Since then, the 27-year-old has scored six and assisted four, and will be looking to add to his tally before the end of the season.

Ged Brannan’s Pre-Match Thoughts

Morecambe manager Ged Brannan spoke ahead of the fixture. He said:

"They've won five on the bounce I think it is now. I watched their game against Wrexham the other day and they did really well so we know it's going to be a really tough game.

"[The December fixture] was a totally different game, this is a more important game to us than that one was, this gets us in the mix.

"We'll take every game as it comes now, and we will have a right go at them on Saturday."

The Man in the Middle

Darren Drysdale will be the man in the middle at the Mazuma Mobile Stadium on Saturday 6 April, the official taking charge of his 31^st fixture of the season. In his previous 30, Drysdale has dished out 111 yellow cards, with an additional four reds making their way out of his back pocket.

Boxing Day was the last time the referee took charge of a game involving the Shrimps; goals from James Connolly and JJ McKiernan earning Morecambe a point away at Bradford City on that day.

Joseph Pettitt and Wayne Grunnill will run the line, with Richard Aspinall the fourth official on Saturday afternoon.

Team News

Long-term absentees Brandon Barker, Stu Moore, and Donald Love will remain sidelined for the Shrimps, with a potential return to the squad for Farrend Rawson.

Listen Live!

Those who are unable to make it to the Mazuma Mobile Stadium on Saturday afternoon will be able to listen to full match commentary with an iFollow Shrimps audio match pass.

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Match Reports

Shrimps fall to Rovers defeat

6 April 2024

A Luke Molyneux brace and a late goal from Tommy Rowe meant Doncaster Rovers left Morecambe with all three points; the Shrimps struggling to get going at the Mazuma Mobile Stadium.

Despite a bright start from the home side, Rovers opened the scoring in the 11th minute, as Luke Molyneux slotted the ball into the back of the net on the counter attack.

In the 22nd minute, the visitors won a free-kick on the edge of the box and Molyneux’s low effort hit the bottom corner doubling their advantage.

On the half hour mark Morecambe’s number 15, Chris Stokes, made a vital clearance to deny Doncaster Rovers their third, as the ball rolled towards goal.

With just over 10 minutes of the first half left to play, Charlie Brown won a free kick which was whipped across the area to the feet of Jordan Slew. Slew crossed the ball across the face of the net but Ged Garner, who was waiting at the far stick, was unable to connect.

In the second minute of injury time, David Tutonda drove down the left before squaring the ball to the feet of Garner however; his shot was blocked. The Shrimps went into the break with work to do.

Half-time: Morecambe 0 Doncaster Rovers 2

Doncaster started strongly after the break, and 10 minutes into the second half Stokes and Mair worked well together to clear and prevent Rovers increasing their advantage.

Just moments later, the Morecambe defence were called into action again but an excellent tackle from Tutonda denied the visitors.

In the 71st minute, Joe Adams and Joel Senior combined well in the box before Senior looked to slot the ball in at the near post but Thimothee Lo-Tutala was there to block his effort.

With 15 minutes left to play Rovers were applying the pressure with Adelakun coming close, but Senior was in the right place to block and clear the danger.

With two minutes of normal time to play, Morecambe had two chances in quick succession. JJ McKiernan’s shot from the edge of the box was blocked by the number of Rovers bodies before Nelson Khumbeni’s curling effort drifted just wide of the far post.

In the 89th minute, Adams forced a huge save from the Rovers goalkeeper who palmed the ball away, yet again keeping the Shrimps out.

One minute into injury time, the ball was squared to Tommy Rowe, who finished first time to make it three to Doncaster Rovers.

Substitutes Jordy Hiwula and Julian Larsson both came close to grabbing a goal back for the hosts, but both failed to find the target.

After Lo-Tutala collected a late free-kick from the Shrimps, Darren Drysdale blew his whistle to call an end to play.

Full-time: Morecambe 0 Doncaster Rovers 3

Morecambe: Mair, Tutonda (Rawson, 78), Bedeau (C), Garner (Hiwula, 78’), Senior, Slew (Larsson, 78’), Stokes, Taylor (McKiernan, 61’) , Edwards, Brown (Adams, 61’), Khumbeni.

Subs not used: Smith, Songo’o.

Goals: None.

Bookings: Edwards, Taylor

Red cards: None.

Doncaster Rovers: Lo-Tutala, Sterry, Maxwell, Olowu, Wood (C), Molyneux (Westbrooke, 84’), Biggins (Rowe, 26’), Bailey, Ironside (Biamou, 73’), Craig, Adelakun (Hurst, 84’).

Subs not used: Jones, Broadbent, McGrath.

Goals: Molyneux (11’, 22’), Rowe (90+1').

Bookings: Adelakun, Craig, Sterry.

Red cards: None.

Attendance: 4,136 (741 away).

Ticket News

Tickets for home clash against Doncaster Roves on sale

26 March 2024

We host Doncaster Rovers on Saturday 6 April and tickets are now on sale.

Ticket Prices

	Standing	Seating
Adult	£20	£25
Concession	£15	£20
Young Adult 18-22	£10	£15
Junior 14-17	£5	£7
Child 2-13*	£3	£5

*All children aged between two and 13 must be accompanied by a responsible adult over the age of 18. Morecambe FC do not permit children under the age of two, or prams/pushchairs, into the stadium bowl.

Click here to order tickets online. Alternatively, you can buy over the phone by calling 01524 411797 (select option three) or via the MFC Club Shop.

Supporters have until kick-off (15:00) on Saturday 6 April to buy tickets, with refund requests accepted until 17:00 on Friday 5 April.

If you require a wheelchair space, we have a limited number available. To book, visit the MFC Club Shop, pay the relevant admission fee and then you'll receive a complimentary carer ticket.