Shrinps suffer first away defeat
Bradford 3
Morecambe 1
MORECAMBE suffered their first away defeat of the season at Valley Parade tonight.
The Shrimps started the game well and should have taken the lead in the opening seconds but both Kevin Ellison and Nick Fenton failed to convert Izak Reid's right wing cross.
From there however the home side controlled the game with Roche making superb saves fromAlan Connell,Andrew Davies and Zavon Hines.
Rory McArdle and Luke Oliver headed over before James Hanson fired the Bantams into the lead on the stroke of half time with a good finish from the edge of the area.
The second half saw Morecambe lift their game with Robbie Threlfall forcing Jon McLaughlin into his first save of note, Richard Brodie seeing an effort cleared off the line by Gary Jones and Stewart Drummond heading over from close range.
The Shrimps were then undone by a second Bantams goal when on top when Kyel Reid broke past Andy Parrish and curled a superb effort into the left hand corner 10 minutes from time.
Two minutes later the Shrimps pulled one back with a fine individual goal from Jack Redshaw andEllison should have made it 2-2 moments later but saw his shot well saved by McLaughlin.
As they pushed bodies forward the Shrimps were undone for a third time when Jones produced a top quality free kick to beat Roche with a shot that curled into the top right hand cornerto clinch the victory.
Bradford: McLaughlin (rep Duke 86), Meredith, Davies, Oliver, Reid; Doyle, Jones, McArdle, Hines (rep Atkinson 72); Connell (rep Wells 67), Hanson. Subs not used: Darby, Ravenhill, Thompson, McHugh.
Booked: Reid, Jones.
Morecambe: Roche; Reid, Parrish, Fenton, Haining, Threlfall (rep McDonald 86); Wright, Drummond, Fleming (rep Burrow75), Brodie (rep Redshaw 63), Ellison. Subs not used: Arestidou, Mwasile, McGee, Doyle.
Booked: Roche, Redshaw, Drummond.
Referee: D Webb
Att: 9,054.