Shrimps looking to make a winning return to Lincolnshire

10 November 2023

We continue our Sky Bet League Two push on Saturday 11 November with a second trip to Lincolnshire in as many weeks to face Grimsby Town.

Morecambe look to carry forward their confidence from Saturday afternoon’s FA Cup First Round clash against Sky Bet League One opposition Lincoln City, where goals from Michael Mellon and Tom Bloxham gave the Shrimps a 2-1 victory.

Meanwhile, Grimsby Town travelled to Berkshire to face Slough Town in their opening fixture of the competition, where they were held to a 1-1 draw by the National League South opposition.

We last travelled to Blundell Park in April 2021, during our run-in from the promotion winning season of 2020/21. The score that day was 3-0 to Morecambe, and the squad will be looking to replicate this success on Saturday.

The Opposition

Heading into Saturday’s game, thirteen points separate the sides, with the Lincolnshire outfit finding themselves 21^st in the League Two table.

The fixture will be the first League Two challenge for interim managers Ben Davies and Shaun Pearson, after previous manager Paul Hurst’s departure at the end of October following a shaky start to their campaign.

Key Players

Summer signing Danny Rose has racked up five goals in all competitions this season, including netting the late equaliser against Slough Town at the weekend. The striker signed from Stevenage in June, having made 52 appearances last season in the side’s promotion-winning campaign.

Abo Eisa has also proved an asset for the Mariners, with the winger regularly featuring alongside Rose in the Grimsby Town front line. The 27-year old also joined the Cleethorpes club in the summer, having been released from fellow League Two competitors Bradford City.

These fresh faces on the east coast are joined by fans’ favourite Harry Clifton, who the Shrimps can expect to see in the centre of midfield for Town. Joining the club at U10 level, Clifton came through the youth setup before signing a professional contract with the club in the summer of 2015, now with over 200 caps under his belt for the team in black and white.

The Man in the Middle

Referee Alan Young will take charge at Blundell Park on Saturday, officiating his tenth fixture of the season. In his previous nine games, he has dished out 54 yellow cards and two red cards.

Young last took charge of the Shrimps at Adams Park, as Morecambe faced Wycombe Wanderers during the 22/23 League One campaign.

He will be joined by assistants Joe Simpson and Bradley Hall, alongside fourth official Johnathon Bickerdike.

Shaun Pearson’s Pre-Match Thoughts

Ahead of Saturday’s clash, joint-interim manager Shaun Pearson said his side can expect a difficult encounter against Derek Adams' men.

Speaking to Grimsby Town's YouTube channel, he said: “They've got a good manager at this level, some good players, good individual players.

"They're well organised, definitely behind the ball, and they carry a threat in certain situations.

"I think they show what you can be in this division at the minute, they're mixing with the heavyweights so to speak, they're bang in there and doing really well."

Team News

Jake Taylor and Stuart Moore remain side-lined for the Shrimps, still on the mend from their respective injuries.

Aside from Taylor and Moore, defender Chris Stokes could miss out through injury.

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Match Reports

Shrimps edged out by the Mariners

11 November 2023

A second half comeback from Grimsby Town saw the Shrimps leave Blundell Park empty handed.

Adam Mayor opened the scoring after a minute and Derek Adams’ men led at the break before two quick fire goals from Danny Rose and Kieran Green was rounded off by Rekeil Pyke on 59 minutes.

An excellent start for the Shrimps saw Michael Mellon win possession after a loose Grimsby header, he played it to JJ McKiernan who released Mayor through one-on-one, he bore down on goal and calmly slotted into the bottom left corner.

Looking for an almost instant response, Kieran Green met a cross into the mix with a glancing header, though he could only watch as the ball rolled wide of the far post.

The Shrimps came close to a second on 13 minutes when Jordan Slew looked to play Mayor through once more; this time, Harvey Cartwright was quick off his line to smother the danger and deny Mayor a second.

A huge opportunity for the hosts went begging on 19 minutes as Gavan Holohan found space in the box and delivered a first time shot on goal, but it was well over. Moments later, Smith was called into action to palm behind a curling effort from Otis Khan.

Smith again was busy after denying Khan with his feet, the ball bounced back off the post into Khan once more whose second effort was held by the Shrimps’ shot-stopper.

With half-time edging closer, Holohan won a header in the box following Jamie Andrews’ delivery, but it was a comfortable save for Smith.

Half-time: Grimsby Town 0 Morecambe 1

The home side nearly started the second half as quickly as the Shrimps started the first; Anthony Glennon ran at the Morecambe defence before Danny Rose took the ball off his teammate and struck first time, Smith pulled out a full stretch save to deny him.

A minute later, Rose did manage to equalise. The corner was swung in, the ball wasn’t cleared and Rose was in the right place at the right time to prod home a leveller.

The Mariners took the lead on 49 minutes through Green who reacted quickest to Rose’s header down and converted from close range.

A few minutes before the hour mark, Slew produced a rocket of an effort from distance, the power was there, but the placement wasn’t as the ball sailed well over the crossbar.

Just as the Shrimps searched for an equaliser, the hosts went down the other went and netted their third of the afternoon through Pyke, who latched onto a through ball from Glennon and finished coolly beyond Smith.

An incredible piece of goalkeeping on 63 minutes denied Grimsby a fourth. The ball fell to Pyke who managed to turn and shoot at goal, but Smith made himself big to keep the ball out.

It was then Cartwright’s turn for heroics; after a calamitous attempted defensive clearance, the ball fell to Slew at the edge of the box whose shot looked destined for the bottom-left corner, but the Grimsby number one managed to deny him at full stretch.

With four minutes of normal time to play, the Shrimps managed to pull one back through McKiernan, who bundled the ball home after meeting Slew’s excellent cross from the right.

In the first of six added minutes at the end of the 90, Eli King received the ball at the left-hand side of the opposition box, he struck at goal but the legs of Cartwright did enough to keep the ball out.

Substitute Ethan Walker picked up the ball on the edge of the box, he twisted and turned away from danger before pulling the trigger, though the ball flew wide of Cartwright’s left-hand post.

Full-time: Grimsby Town 3 Morecambe 2

Grimsby Town: Cartwright, Glennon (Hunt, 80’), Green, Rodgers, Holohan, Pyke (Wilson, 80’), Khan (Eisa, 71’), Andrews (Clifton, 58’), Mullarkey, Maher, Rose ©.

Subs not used: Eastwood, Waterfall, Hunt, Conteh.

Goals: Rose (47’), Green (49’), Pyke (59’).

Bookings: Khan, Holohan, Hunt.

Red cards: None.

Morecambe: A Smith, Tutonda (Walker, 88’), Bedeau © (Davenport, 88’), Bloxham (Songo’o, HT), King, Mellon, McKiernan, Mayor, Senior, Slew (Melbourne, 90’), Connolly (Rawson, HT).

Subs not used: Pedley, C Smith.

Goals: Mayor (02’).

Bookings: Tutonda.

Red cards: None.

Attendance: 5,939 (139 away).