Shrimps seal safety
MORECAMBE secured their Football League safety with a convincing victory over AFC Wimbledon.
Two goals in two first half minutes and an injury time penalty gave the Shrimps the three points they needed to ensure League 2 football next season.
Jim Bentley’s side had to withstand some early pressure with Wimbledon looking to maintain their recent run of good form. Kwesi Appiah was in the thick of the action early in the game, blazing over the bar from an angle when he should have squared to the unmarked Jack Midson before firing just wide.
The home side then went close with a vicious Chris Arhur curling free kick that flew inches past the post.
After surviving the pressure Morecambe hit back strongly and scored two goals in two minutes towards the end of the first half.
Jack Redshaw was the first to strike when he showed great footwork to pick up the loose ball in the area and skip past keeper Seb Brown and score from an acute angle.
One minute later it was 2-0 when the Shrimps took advantage of some more hesitation in the home defence. Redshaw was again the sharpest to react by latching onto the loose ball and crossing perfectly for Jamie Devitt to slide home the loose ball at full stretch.
The Shrimps started the second half brightly with Devitt forcing an excellent save from Brown from a low long range shot before the Dons enjoyed a period of dominance.
Unlike recent weeks however the Morecambe defence looked strong and Barry Roche was largely an onlooker.
As Wimbledon pushed forward the Shrimps looked threatening on the break and added a third with an injury time penalty.
Andy Fleming was brought down by Luke Moore in the box and Padraig Amond sent Brown the wrong way from the spot kick to seal a vital win for the Shrimps.
Wimbledon: Brown, Fuller, Frampton, Jones, Arthur, Francomb (rep Sweeney 74), S Moore (rep Pell 79), Nicholson (rep L Moore 59), Hylton, Midson, Appiah. Subs not used: Worner, Richards, Morris, Anwi.
Morecambe: Roche, Beeley, Hughes, Parrish, Edwards, Mustoe (rep Diagne 10), Kenyon, Fleming, Devitt (rep Wrigh 69), Redshaw (rep Amond 79), Ellison. Subs not used: Sampson, Williams, Marshall, Arestidou.
Ref: S Martin.