Shrimps back to winning ways
Morecambe made an immediate return to winning ways after a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Aldershot at the Globe Arena writes ADAM WOODHOUSE.
.An own goal from Oliver Risser and a close-range header from Gary McDonald gave the Shrimps a 2-0 lead and despite a late strike from Danny Hylton, Jim Bentley’s side held on for a crucial win
in League Two and 12 points clear of the relegation zone.thIt now means the Shrimps move up two places into 12
Bentley made two changes from Saturday’s disappointing defeat against Exeter, with Jack Redshaw and Chris McCready returning to the starting line-up in place of Chris Holroyd and Andy Parrish.
The Shrimps made the brighter start of the two sides, with Ryan Williams generating the first shot of note when his drilled shot was parried aside by Aldershot goalkeeper Jamie Young.
Just like on Saturday, chances were limited for large spells of the first-half, with both defences cancelling each other out.
It was the away side, however, who should have been ahead on the half-hour mark when Hylton controlled Kieran Cadogan’s low cross, but after swivelling past his marker his scrambled shot went inches wide of the post.
Just a minute later and Hylton came close again to reaching double figures for the season, but this time his deflected shot was tipped around the post by Barry Roche at full stretch.
Those chances seemed to liven up the Morecambe attack and Redshaw nearly had the home fans on their feet when his instinctive shot flew narrowly over the Aldershot bar, after he raced onto Nick Fenton’s long ball.
With the Shrimps now gaining confidence in possession, more chances came their way and Kevin Ellison was close to converting a deep cross but he just mistimed his run at the back post.
The chance of the half then fell to the Shrimps, as Stewart Drummond headed Williams’ corner back across goal but after Fenton’s powerful header came crashing off the crossbar, he blazed the rebound into the stands.
The second-half began in a similar fashion to the first, with a real lack of creativity coming from both sides.
Fenton had the home side’s most noteworthy chance just after the interval, but his header flashed wide of the post from a Williams corner.
With the game seeming to be petering out for a goalless draw, a stroke of luck brought the game alive.
Drummond headed another corner across goal but this time Aldershot midfielder Risser inadvertently headed past his own keeper, to give the Shrimps the lead with 18 minutes to go.
A flurry of substitutions followed and with Jordan Burrow and Holroyd added to the Shrimps attack, the home side went in search of a second goal.
With Williams now finding pockets of space in midfield it did not take long for that goal to come and after the young midfielder’s ferocious shot was parried by Young, McDonald was in the right place at the right time to dive in and head into an open net.
Anxiety then set in around the Globe and Burrow could and probably should have made it three, but when put in on goal by strike partner Holroyd he saw two shots blocked by the Shots defence.
That missed chance nearly came back to haunt the home side, as striker Hylton found himself free in the Morecambe box and after waiting for Roche to go to ground he passed the ball into an empty net.
Despite that setback, it proved to only be a consolation for the visitors and the Shrimps earned their third win in four games ahead of a tough trip to Port Vale on Saturday.
Morecambe:Roche; Haining, McCready, Fenton, Wright; McDonald, Drummond, Williams; Alessandra (Holroyd 83), Redshaw (Burrow 76), Ellison.
Unused subs:Arestidou, Doyle, Parrish, Mwasile, Parkinson.
Aldershot:Young; Herd, Bradley, Brown, Tonkin; Cadogan (Mekki 81), Rose, Risser (Ainsworth 81), Vincenti; Hall (Reid 61); Hylton.
Unused subs: G Morris, McNamee, Forbes, A Morris.
Referee:T Bates
Attendance:1,226