Shrimps knocked out of the FA Cup with a disappointing display at non league Dover Athletic
THE Shrimps bowed out of the FA Cup with a disappointing display at non league Dover.
A goal from Stefan Payne in first half injury time was enough to give the home side victory and earn them a place in the second round.
Payne received the ball on the edge of the Morecambe box and turned sharply to beat his marker before drilling a low shot past debutant keeper Joe Lumley.
The home side looked the more threatening in the opening stages of the game with midfielder Nick Deverdics seeing a looping near post header sail just over the crossbar.
Deverdics then went close again on 10 minutes when played in behind the Morecambe defence but saw his final effort from an acute angle fail to threaten the Morecambe goal.
The Shrimps struggled to forge any chances until Jack Redshaw went on a solo run on the half hour that ended with a shot that was well saved by Andrew Rafferty.
Jim Bentley’s sider were much better in the second half but failed to beat the home defender.
Alex Kenyon saw a header cleared off the line on 52 minutes and substitute Padraig Amond forced a brilliant save from Rafferty in the 73rd minutes with a close range snapshot.
Rafferty was at his best again to race from his goal to deny Kevin Ellison a free run on goal and Amond had a chance to get in a shot in the 94th minute but his first touch took him away from goal and the opportunity went begging.
Dover: Rafferty, Essam, Bonner, Francis, Orlu, Sterling, Deverdics (rep Wynter 87), Kinnear, Taiwo, Murphy (rep Bellamy 75), Payne (rep Raggett 90). Subs not used: Rutherford, Reid, Lock, Hook.
Morecambe: Lumley, Wright, Parrish, Edwards, Wilson, Beeley (rep Sampson 78), Fleming, Kenyon (rep Williams 83), Ellison, Mullin, Redshaw (rep Amond 57). Subs nor used: Jones, McCready, Goodall, McGowan.
Ref: M Bull.
Att: 1,609.