Jacob Bedeau’s late equaliser sees the Shrimps take a point from Harrogate Town on New Year’s Day.

Jack Muldoon opened the scoring late in the first half before Jordan Slew equalised on 57 minutes. George Thomson put the visitors in front with seven minutes of the 90 to play before Jacob Bedeau bundled home a late equaliser.

The first half chance of proceedings fell the way of the visitors after the ball rolled into the path of Muldoon who looked to shoot on the turn, but a vital Joel Senior block denied the Harrogate man an early attempt on target.

Senior then caused problems at the other end and, after turning two Town defenders inside out, he delivered a cross into the mix with Michael Mellon the target, though his first-time strike was wide.

Looking to catch the Sulphurites on the break with 18 minutes played, Jordan Slew rolled the ball into the path of JJ McKiernan. The angle was against the Northern Irish U21 international, but he still managed to drill a powerful effort at goal, which James Belshaw did well to hold.

A matter of seconds later, Town were awarded a free kick about 12 yards outside the Morecambe box. George Thomson stepped up and fizzed a shot just wide of Adam Smith’s right-hand post. 

A blistering counterattack on 32 minutes nearly resulted in an opener for the Shrimps. Slew carried the ball out from the back and played the ball to Mayor, who passed to Eli King in the middle of the park, he released Mellon who made ground into the opposition box, but his shot was straight at the goalkeeper.

The visitors were ahead just before the interval. Thomson’s cross was initially blocked by a defender before the ball fell kindly to the onrushing Muldoon reacted quickest to prod the ball home from close range.

Half-time: Morecambe 0 Harrogate Town 1 

Eight minutes into the second half and Thomson cut inside before firing a shot at goal, the ball took a deflection which took the sting out of the strike, allowing Smith to gather. 

Similarly, at the other end, a neat ball from Charlie Brown released Slew down the left, he made his way inside and saw a strike deflected behind for a corner which the away side cleared.

Moments later, the Shrimps levelled the game. Some nice build up play saw Slew collect the ball with his back to goal, he turned and struck from distance, ultimately finding the back of the net to make it one-all. 

Within a matter of seconds, a huge chance fell to the Shrimps as Taylor’s cross found Farrend Rawson in space inside the Town box, but his side-footed volley was straight at Belshaw.

Smith was called upon and made a cracking save on 63 minutes after meeting Thomson’s goal-bound toe poke with an outstretched leg, though the linesman’s flag arose, and play was pulled back for offside.

Thomson again popped up with an opportunity with just under 20 minutes of normal time to play. Dean Cornelius first saw his shot blocked by Rawson before Thomson took a couple of touches and blasted the rebound narrowly wide. 

The visitors netted again on 83 minutes through Thomson. Abraham Odoh looked to strike but missed the ball, and there was Thomson to side-foot beyond Smith from just inside the Shrimps’ box.

Just before the 90-minute mark, Brown found himself in a shooting position and rocketed a fierce strike on target, but it lacked the direction to test Belshaw.

Our second equaliser of the afternoon came in the second minute of six added on. King’s corner was headed back across goal by Rawson and there was Bedeau to convert.

Thomson thought he scored a winner with one of the last kicks of the game, but his strike cannoned back off the crossbar and behind for a goal kick.

Full-time: Morecambe 2 Harrogate Town 2

Morecambe: A Smith, Tutonda, Bedeau, Rawson ©, Songo’o (C Smith, 90+6’), King, Mellon (Brown, HT), McKiernan (Taylor, 41’), Mayor (Bloxham, 40’), Senior, Slew.

Subs not used: Pedley, Stokes, Davenport.

Goals: Slew (57’), Bedeau (90+2’).

Bookings: Brannan, Slew, Songo’o, Rawson.

Red cards: None.

Harrogate Town: Belshaw, Falkingham © (Sutton, 80’), Thomson, Cornelius (Burrell, 85’), Odoh, Folarin (March, 85’), O’Connor, Muldoon, Ramsay, Foulds, Gibson.

Subs not used: Mooney, Daly, Sivi, O’Boyle.

Goals: Muldoon (44’), Thomson (83’).

Bookings: Belshaw, Burrell.

Red cards: None.

Attendance: 3,776 (161 away).