Good start to the pre season campaign
MORECAMBE made a winning start to their pre-season preparations as Kevin Ellison scored the only goal in an entertaining clash with Burnley at the Globe Arena.
Ellison diverted Padraig Amond’s 79th minute right-wing cross past substitute goalkeeper Alex Cisak, while the Shrimps’ hit the woodwork three times in an encouraging first performance by Jim Bentley’s side.
The Shrimps boss’ handed debuts to summer signings Tony Diagne, Marcus Marshall and new captain Mark Hughes.
Hughes and Diagne started in the heart of the Morecambe defence with both Chris McCready and Andy Parrish ruled out through injury.
The Shrimps’ defence was tested immediately by their Championship opposition with winger Keith Treacy causing problems down the right.
After more good work by the Irish winger his cross was headed harmlessly wide by striker Danny Ings when he should have done better.
Despite that early pressure Bentley’s side got men forward themselves and came within inches of taking a ten minute lead.
Robbie Threlfall slid Joe Mwasile in down the left and after he picked out Andy Fleming with a perfect centre, the midfielder’s shot was headed off the line by defender Danny Lafferty.
Sensing a first Globe Arena goal of the season the Shrimps’ pushed more men forward but Joe McGee blazed wide after winger Mwasile again supplied from the wing.
Ellison diverted Padraig Amond’s 79th minute right-wing cross past substitute goalkeeper Alex Cisak, while the Shrimps’ hit the woodwork three times in an encouraging first performance by Jim Bentley’s side.
The Shrimps boss’ handed debuts to summer signings Tony Diagne, Marcus Marshall and new captain Mark Hughes.
Hughes and Diagne started in the heart of the Morecambe defence with both Chris McCready and Andy Parrish ruled out through injury.
The Shrimps’ defence was tested immediately by their Championship opposition with winger Keith Treacy causing problems down the right.
After more good work by the Irish winger his cross was headed harmlessly wide by striker Danny Ings when he should have done better.
Despite that early pressure Bentley’s side got men forward themselves and came within inches of taking a ten minute lead.
Robbie Threlfall slid Joe Mwasile in down the left and after he picked out Andy Fleming with a perfect centre, the midfielder’s shot was headed off the line by defender Danny Lafferty.
Sensing a first Globe Arena goal of the season the Shrimps’ pushed more men forward but Joe McGee blazed wide after winger Mwasile again supplied from the wing.
The visitors continued to create chances of their own though and when forward Ings ran onto a through ball from Brian Stock he looked set to break the deadlock but the legs of Barry Roche came to Morecambe’s rescue.
Mwasile – causing constant problems to the Burnley defence with his pace and trickery – then should have given Bentley’s men the lead but his well driven shot flew narrowly wide of the bottom left post.
Both defences stood firm as the half wore on and the closest either side came to leading at the break was when Treacy’s 25-yard free-kick curled agonisingly over the Morecambe crossbar.
Striker Jack Sampson showed glimpses of his quality in the first half with some neat touches and hold-up play, while defenders Hughes and Diagne looked capable of building a solid partnership in the Morecambe defence.
Bentley changed his entire front six for the second-half with Alex Kenyon and trialist Amond making their debuts, while Ellison, Ryan Williams, Jack Redshaw and Danny Carlton graced the Globe Arena pitch for the first time this season.
Those attacking changes came close to making an immediate impact when play resumed, with last season’s top goalscorer Redshaw hitting the crossbar with a ferocious 25-yard shot after weaving his way past the Burnley midfield.
Former Accrington Stanley striker Amond then saw his centred cross blocked, before the Shrimps’ rattled the Burnley crossbar once again.
This time Diagne met Williams’ deep free-kick with a powerful header but it crashed off the underside of the bar, with the Clarets’ defence scrambling the ball to safety before the Shrimps’ forwards could pounce.
Sean Dyche’s side again showed glimpses of their quality as trialist Scott Arfield forced Roche to beat away a stinging 20-yard strike and Welsh international Sam Vokes just failed to connect with a dangerous left-wing cross.
With the game now becoming stretched it was the Shrimps who tried their luck on goal but Ellison headed narrowly over the crossbar from a Williams near post corner.
The experienced winger made no mistake with his next sight on goal however, as the Shrimps took a deserved lead 11 minutes from time.
Trialist Luke Denson started the move and after Amond found space down the right-hand side his low cross was prodded into the bottom left corner by Ellison.
The visitors tried in vain to find an equaliser and Bentley’s side came close to adding a second but Ellison’s thunderous half-volley was expertly tipped onto the crossbar by Cisak as the Shrimps settled for just the one.
Mwasile – causing constant problems to the Burnley defence with his pace and trickery – then should have given Bentley’s men the lead but his well driven shot flew narrowly wide of the bottom left post.
Both defences stood firm as the half wore on and the closest either side came to leading at the break was when Treacy’s 25-yard free-kick curled agonisingly over the Morecambe crossbar.
Striker Jack Sampson showed glimpses of his quality in the first half with some neat touches and hold-up play, while defenders Hughes and Diagne looked capable of building a solid partnership in the Morecambe defence.
Bentley changed his entire front six for the second-half with Alex Kenyon and trialist Amond making their debuts, while Ellison, Ryan Williams, Jack Redshaw and Danny Carlton graced the Globe Arena pitch for the first time this season.
Those attacking changes came close to making an immediate impact when play resumed, with last season’s top goalscorer Redshaw hitting the crossbar with a ferocious 25-yard shot after weaving his way past the Burnley midfield.
Former Accrington Stanley striker Amond then saw his centred cross blocked, before the Shrimps’ rattled the Burnley crossbar once again.
This time Diagne met Williams’ deep free-kick with a powerful header but it crashed off the underside of the bar, with the Clarets’ defence scrambling the ball to safety before the Shrimps’ forwards could pounce.
Sean Dyche’s side again showed glimpses of their quality as trialist Scott Arfield forced Roche to beat away a stinging 20-yard strike and Welsh international Sam Vokes just failed to connect with a dangerous left-wing cross.
With the game now becoming stretched it was the Shrimps who tried their luck on goal but Ellison headed narrowly over the crossbar from a Williams near post corner.
The experienced winger made no mistake with his next sight on goal however, as the Shrimps took a deserved lead 11 minutes from time.
Trialist Luke Denson started the move and after Amond found space down the right-hand side his low cross was prodded into the bottom left corner by Ellison.
The visitors tried in vain to find an equaliser and Bentley’s side came close to adding a second but Ellison’s thunderous half-volley was expertly tipped onto the crossbar by Cisak as the Shrimps settled for just the one.
Morecambe (First-half): Roche; Wright, Hughes, Diagne, Threlfall; Drummond, McGee, Fleming; Marshall, Sampson, Mwasile.
(Second-half) Roche; Wright (Denson 66), Hughes (Bell 62), Diagne (Doyle 58), Threlfall (McGowan 73); Kenyon, Williams, Ellison; Amond, Carlton, Redshaw.
Burnley (First-half): Heaton; Lafferty, Long, Shackell, Mills; Treacy, Marney, Stock, Arfield; Vokes, Ings.
(Second-half) Cisak; Coleman, Duff, Mee, Lafferty; Wallace, Hewitt, Arfield; Stanislas, Vokes, Porter.
Referee: N Swarbrick