Brave Shrimps go down fighting
MORECAMBE produced an excellent performance but were knocked out of the Capital One Cup by two late Newcastle strikes.
Jim Bentley’s side produced a fine display against the Premiership giants and saw two first half efforts cleared off the line but a quality strike from Shola Ameobi on 84 minutes and a breakaway goal from his brother Sammy in injury time won the tie.
Morecambe produced a superb first half performance and went close to opening the scoring n 10 minutes. Ryan Williams swung over a deep corner which was met by Mark Hughes who headed past Rob Elliott but saw his effort cleared off the line by Dan Gosling.
The Shrimps were then denied again by another goal line Gosling clearance on 21 minutes when Padraig Amond diverted a Williams corner towards goal with shouts for both handball and a red card being waved away.
Amond then went close again on the half hour with a stinging shot that was superbly tipped away by Elliot.
Newcastle had their best spell towards the end of the half with Sammy Ameobi seeing a shot that was heading for the right hand corner blocked by his own player Mapou Yanga Mbiwa.
Alan Pardew’s side started the second half on the front foot with Shola Ameobi called off the bench and wasting a glorious chance just seconds into the half when through one on one with Roche only to blaze well wide.
Morecambe produced some decent football but clear chances were rare in the second period. Jack Sampson curled an effort inches wide and both Ryan Williams and Sampson tried their luck from distance but failed to find the target.
The introduction of Hatem Ben Arfa gave Newcastle the added edge and he played a huge part in Newcastle’s opener which gave Morecambe too much to do to get back into the game.
MORECAMBE: Roche; Wright, Parrish, Hughes, Diagne; Williams, Fleming (rep Kenyon 76), Drummond (rep Mwasile 87); Amond (rep Marshall 57), Sampson, Ellison. Subs not used: Arestidou, Threlfall, McCready, McGee.
NEWCASTLE: Elliot, Debauchy, Good, Yanga Mbiwa, Dummett; Sammy Ameobi, Bigirimana, Gosling, Marveux (rep Sissoko 88); Gouffran (rep Ben Arfa 70), Vuckic (rep Shola Ameobi 46). Subs not used: Alnwick, Santon, Anita, Streete.
Ref: M Haywood.