Morecambe 1-2 Liverpool XI
TWO late goals saw Morecambe slip to a 2-1 defeat to Liverpool Under 21s at the Globe Arena.
After looking strong and taking a second half lead through Kevin Ellison the Shrimps conceded two goals in the last 10 minutes after two midfield errors proved costly.
The Shrimps had a glorious chance to open the scoring in the second minute when Rhys Turner reacted quickly to take advantage of a bouncing ball but saw his shot from close range smothered by Kevin Kelleher.
Liverpool then came into the game with Harry Wilson firing over from the edge of the area on 10 minutes and Samuel hart volleying over from close range after getting in behind the Morecambe defence to get onto the end of a right wing cross. Brooks Lennon forced Dan Nizic into a save at full stretch and Jack Dunn volleyed over in the last action of the first half.
The second half started with Aaron McGowan forcing Kelleher into a superb save as he tipped a left wing curler onto the crossbar but the Liverpool stopper was beaten on 52 minutes when Aaron Wildig played in Kevin Ellison and he slid the ball under the advancing keeper and into the net.
Dunn went close to levelling almost immediately with a shot that dipped just over the bar before Samuel Hart dragged an effort wide from an acute angle on the hour.
Liverpool pulled one back 10 minutes from time when Dunn latched on to a loose ball in midfield and ran at the Morecambe defence before producing a cool finish to curl an effort past Nizic from 12 yards out.
Lee Molyneux went close to putting the Shrimps ahead moments after but slipped a left foot shot inches wide.
As the game opened up Liverpool added a second with four minutes to go as the Shrimps once again gave the ball away cheaply in midfield and after a neat lay off Brooks Lennon drove the ball past Nizic from the left hand side of the area.
Jim Bentley's side were twice denied a late equaliser when both Tom Barkhuizen and Aaron Wildig saw shots cleared off the line in quick succession as the Shrimps looked to share the spoils.
Morecambe: Nizic, McGowan, Whitmore, Edwards, Conlon (rep Wakefield 79), Kenyon (rep trialist 62), Fleming, Wildig, Mullin (rep Barkhuizen 71), Turner (rep Stockton 81), Ellison (rep Molyneux 71). Subs not used: Maher, Brownsword, Hedley.
Liverpool: Kelleher, Whelan, Juanma, N Phillips, Jones, Williams, Wilson, Phillips., Lennon, Dunn, Hart. Subs: Brewitt, Firth, Alves, Maguire, Garton, Virtus, Gomes, Kane.