Goal hero praises team spirit
GOALSCORING hero Padraig Amond believes the club’s fantastic team spirit was behind the Shrimps’ remarkable comeback against Chesterfield writes ADAM WOODHOUSE
Jim Bentley’s side found themselves 3-0 down at half-time against the League Two leaders but second-half strikes from Kevin Ellison, Mark Hughes, Jack Sampson and Amond ensured it would be a day to remember for the Shrimps.
The victory extends Morecambe’s unbeaten run to seven matches and striker Amond insisted there was always a chance of that fight-back happening because of the belief in the Shrimps’ squad.
He said: “It’s a great spirit in there, I’ve said before that the spirit here is probably the best that I’ve ever been involved with in a dressing room and the result showed that today.”
The Irishman added: “When we spoke at half-time we just sort of said amongst ourselves just make sure they don’t score again in the second-half and let’s try and make a go of it.
“Obviously we scored quite early and the lads then put in a great shift in the second-half and it turned out to be one of the most amazing games that anyone is ever going to see.”
He continued: “It was one of the weirdest games of football I think I’ve ever been involved in, I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed a goal as much as that and it’s just an amazing day all round.”
The former Republic of Ireland U21 international missed a glorious opportunity to reduce the 3-0 deficit just before half-time but he more than made up for it with the fourth and all important match-winning goal.
Strike partner Sampson was the creator for that goal and Amond was quick to praise the contribution made by the Shrimps’ no.9.
He said: “I just wanted to get my head on it.
“It was a great ball in to be fair to him [Sampson], he has that quality in him that he can just put a ball in onto your head.”
He continued: “I think I was nearly lying on the ground when I headed it in.
“When I was lying there it was like slow motion, I could see the ball going towards the bottom corner and I was just willing it in and willing it in and thinking please don’t make a good save and thankfully it went in.”
The goal was Amond’s fourth since his summer move from rivals Stanley and he has quickly become a fans’ favourite with three match-winning goals.
The former Pacos de Ferreira striker applauded the support of those fans in playing their part to help the Shrimps’ complete the extraordinary turnaround.
He said: “When the first goal went in there was like an ironic cheer, when the second one went in there was belief there and we built off the energy of the crowd and when the third goal went in I turned round to Andy Wright and said we’re going to win this game and thankfully we scored in the last few minutes.”
Amond concluded: “When the goal went in it was 86 minutes when I looked up at the clock and I was like ref just blow up and when I saw five minutes of time, I was thinking not Dagenham again but it was brilliant by the lads and I’m delighted.”