Shrimps earn cup Coventry clash
MORECAMBE earned an FA Cup second round tie with Coventry City after this excellent victory over John Coleman's Rochdale.
Gary McDonald scored the only goal of the game on 43 minutes to see them produce a superb win. Izak Reid produced a great run and cross from the left to the far post and although Lewis Alessandra’s header was superbly saved by Josh Lillis the ball broke free to McDonald who scored from close range.
Boss Jim Bentley was delighted saying: "They threw everything at us but Barry only had one real save to make and it was a great win.
"The lads put their bodies on the line all the way through the game. Everyone worked their socks off and it is a fantastic result for all concerned and great to get a second round tie.
"We were down to bare bones as you could see from our bench but the lads were magnificent and every credit to them.''
Rochdale had the better of the opening exchanges but struggled to create any clear cut chances.
Their best effort in the first half came on 20 minutes when Dele Adebola nipped in front of his marker to send a looping header towards the top right hand corner but saw his effort clawed away by Barry Roche at full stretch.
From there Ashley Grimes headed a right wing Matt Pearson cross wide of the left hand post before Morecambe hit back with Kevin Ellison drilling a free kick well over.
The second half saw Morecambe defend superbly as Rochdale did their best to get back into the game.
Nick Fenton and Chris McCready both produced fine blocks and with Stewart Drummond and Andy Fleming preventing Rochdale’s creative midfielders from getting into their stride the Shrimps rarely looked in trouble.
Ashley Grimes curled a free kick inches wide and George Donnelly almost produced a late equaliser with a shot that was deflected inches wide on 88 minutes but Morecambe clung on for a fine win.
ROCHDALE: Lillis; Pearson, Bennett (rep Byrne 45), P Edwards, McIntyre; Cavanagh, Kennedy (rep Craney 73), Tutte; Grimes (rep Putterill 62), Donnelly, Adebola. Subs not used: Rafferty, Barry-Murphy, Logan, Smith.
Booked: Tutte, McIntyre, Pearson.
MORECAMBE: Roche, Parrish, McCready, Fenton, Wright, Drummond, Fleming, McDonald;, Ellison, Alessandra (rep Parkinson 89), Reid. Subs not used: Arestidou, Doyle, Threlfall, McGee, Short, Haining.
Booked: Alessandra.
Att: 1,675.
Ref: M Heywood