Brewers blunt Shrimps
THE Shrimps’ winless run moved to six games as Zeli Ismail’s stunning strike handed promotion-chasing Burton Albion victory at the Globe Arena.
The on-loan Wolves winger drilled a shot from outside the area past a motionless Barry Roche 20 minutes from time to settle what had been a largely scrappy clash in difficult conditions.
The hosts suffered an early blow when they lost Robbie Threlfall to injury after an aerial clash with Gary Alexander - the Shrimps felt the on-loan striker had used an elbow but referee Ross Joyce ruled it a fair challenge.
Morecambe thought for a second they’d gone ahead five minutes later but Jack Redshaw was flagged offside before finishing well past debutant Rob Lainton.
It was the visitors however who had the best of the early chances, Barry Roche first experly saving from Alexander on 20 minutes before denying Alex MacDonald after some sloppy Shrimps defending less than 60 seconds later.
At the other end, a pinpoint Jamie Devitt pass found Kevin Ellison in on goal but Lainton in the Burton goal did well, rushing out as the ball dropped out of the swirling wind to block the striker’s effort.
But that was about that in the opening half of a surface that became increasingly troublesome as the game went on.
Both sides’ struggles continued at the start of the second half before Adam McGurk wasted an excellent chance on 56 minutes, the striker blazing over after MacDonald had capitalised on an error from Tony Diagne.
Ellison then saw a back post header from a Devitt cross go over the bar after good work from substitute Jack Sampson on 63 minutes.
And just moments later, Redshaw managed to find half a yard for a shot in the area but surrounded by Burton defenders fired straight at Lainton.
But it was the visitors who went in front 20 minutes from time. Substitue Ismail drifted in from the right and drilled an unstoppable left-footed shot from outside the area past a motionless Roche and into the far corner.
Morecambe pushed for an equaliser they never in truth looked like getting as the Shrimps slipped to 13th in League 2 with Burton rising to fifth.
Morecambe: Roche, Beeley, McCready, Parrish, Threlfall (Diagne 13), Drummond, Wright (capt), Williams (Sampson 56), Devitt (Amond 79), Redshaw, Ellison. Subs not used: Arestidou, McGee, McGowan, Doyle.
Burton Albion: Lainton, Edwards, Sharps, Cansdell-Sherriff, McCrory, MacDonald (Hussey 61), Weir, Palmer, Phillips (Ismail 61), McGurk, Alexander (Kee 70). Subs not used: Lyness, Diamond, Bell, Knowles.
Booked: MacDonald
Referee: Ross Joyce
Attendance: 1,478