Shrimps kick off season with
MORECAMBE RES 1
PORT VALE 0
MORECAMBE Reserves kicked off their Central League season with a well fought victory over Port Vale.
Trialist Adam Dawson scored the only goal of the game six minutes from time with a fine shot from the edge of the area that bat Sam Johnson low to his right hand side.
The first half ended goalless with few chances at either end.
After a quiet opening Port Vale went close just before the half hour when Joshua Croft lobbed goalwards from the right hand side of the area forcing Andreas Arestidou into a neat tip over.
Ten minutes later the Valiants carved a good opening again as they attacked from the left and Ryan Lloyd fired wide from the edge of the area when he should have done better.
Morecambe hit back with Simon Wearing looping a header goalwards before Joe Mwasile missed a good opening when he failed to find the target from 10 yards out.
The second half followed a similar pattern with few threatening moments.
Port Vale enjoyed the better spell at the start of the half and Arestidou had to be at his best to make a superb double save on 52 minutes, first denying Luke Beesley before recovering smartly to stop Croft from slotting home the rebound.
The Shrimps then enjoyed a period on top with Simon Wearing firing a fine 25 yard effort against the crossbar and Adam Dawson firing inches wide after a good run down the left.
Dawson produced his telling goal on 84 minutes and tested Johnson again with a decent strike two minutes later.
MORECAMBE: Arestidou, Selby (rep McGowen 77), Short, Bell, Knipe; McGee, Mwasile, Sloan, Finney (rep Middleton 58); Wearing (rep Dunleavey 80), Dawson. Subs not used: Cookson, Newton, Gate, Naylor.
PORT VALE: Johnson; Evans, Morris, James, Owen; Davis, Croft (rep Davies 61), Murphy (rep Whieldon 19), Marland; Beesley, Lloyd. Subs not used: Boot, Price, Pryor.
Ref: M Cunliffe.