Match Report: Morecambe 1-2 Newport County
MORECAMBE suffered a third successive defeat when they went down 2-1 to Newport County at the Globe Arena this afternoon.
Two goals from Scott Boden gave new Newport boss Warren Feeney his first win since taking over from John Sheridan with Shaun Miller scoring the Shrimps' goal on the hour.
The visitors went ahead after just 56 seconds. The hosts failed to clear Mark Byrne's in-swinging corner with Boden hammering the ball home from close range.
The Shrimps were nearly level a minute later but after Kevin Ellison had volleyed goalwards Darren Jones deflected clearance hit the top of the bar on its way over.
The Morecambe backline continued to look far from secure as chances flowed in the early stages.
Medy Elito fired narrowly wide from distance before Boden's shot was saved by Barry Roche at his near post, Jones heading over the resultant corner.
The openings were coming at both ends however, Tom Barkhuizen was denied by Mitchell Beeney in on goal after 12 minutes with Jamie Devitt's follow-up being cleared off the line.
The game calmed after the frantic opening with the wind playing its part in what was a poor spectacle.
The Shrimps had the first opening of the second half but Beeney had no trouble in holding onto Ellison's free-kick as the game continued to lack any kind of spark.
Beeney was again on hand shortly after to keep out Barkhuizen's low shot from 20 yards after a driving run at the County defence.
The leveller came on the hour mark out of nothing and was worth the wait.
Miller and Devitt exchanged slick passes down the right with the front man drilling home an unstoppable strike from 25 yards.
Having provided one assist Devitt nearly grabbed a goal of his own on 67 minutes but fired a shot narrowly wide from 25 yards after a flowing move.
But it was the visitors who went in front for a second time two minutes later.
Rodman crossed from the right with Boden guiding the ball home almost unchallenged to restore Newport's advantage.
The Shrimps pushed for a leveller as they looked to arrest their recent slide, Devitt seeing a second shot from distance go just the wrong side of the post on 83 minutes.
Their best chance came three minutes from time however, Ellison dragging his effort wide when released in the area by a Paul Mullin backheel.
Morecambe: Roche, Beeley (capt), Dugdale, Edwards, Conlan, Goodall (Mullin 76), Fleming, Barkhuizen, Devitt, Ellison, Miller. Subs not used: OHara, Edwards, Molyneux, Wilson, Doyle
Booked: Ellison, Conlan
Newport County: Beeney, Holmes, Jones, Hughes, Davies, Rodman, Byrne (capt), Elito, Boden, Wilkinson (Ayina 84), Smalley (Barrow 74). Subs not used: Green, Taylor, Ralph, Owen-Evans, Dymond.
Booked: Boden
Referee: Mark Brown
Attendance: 1,342 (111 away)