Morecambe 3, Hartlepool 1
MORECAMBE'S youngsters produced an excellent performance to move into the second round of the FA Youth Cup.Two goals from striker Tom Woods and an opener from defender Tyler Bowman on the stroke of half time helped the juniors to the victory against a Hartlepool side who battled hard after being reduced to 10 men in the first half.
The visitors lost goalkeeper Mark Foden in only the 15th minute of the game when he handled outside his area and his replacement James Dawson was forced into a string of excellent saves before the Shrimps broke the deadlock in injury time when Bowman headed home a right wing corner.
Both sides traded chances but it was the finishing of Woods, who twice converted one on ones, that proved decisive on the night.
Hartlepool had their chances with Connor Smith curling an effort inches wide and then lobbing just over the crossbar before Josh Neary headed wide from close range.
They scored a deserved goal when Callum Wood drilled a low shot past Kitchen from the edge of the box. Wood should have had a second on 84 minutes but headed over from six yards out when unmarked and Wood missed a great chance when he failed to find the target after getting in behind the back four.
MORECAMBE: Kitchen, McGowan, Hudson, Bowman, Lewis, Akande, Dunleavy, Colebourn, Naylor, Woods, Newby. Subs: Newton, Watson, Downing, Holness, Muscart.
HARTLEPOOL: Foden, Harbottle, Turner, Neary, Nelllis, Walker, Bridges, Green, Wood, Smith, Halpin. Subs: Dawson, Blackford, Armstrong, Briggs, Turnbull.