Match Report: Crawley Town 1-1 Morecambe
SHAUN Miller scored a late goal to earn the Shrimps a vital point at Crawley.
The Shrimps' top scorer returned from his three match ban to earn his side a share of the spoils with a fine goal seven minutes from time.
Matt Harrold had given the hosts the lead on 54 minutes and for a long time it looked like inflicting a ninth defeat in 10 games on Jim Bentley’s side.
But Miller was on hand at the back post after Chris Doyle had nodded on Paul Mullin’s corner to level up a game that won’t live long in the memory.
Shrimps' boss Jim Bentley made two changes to the staring line up with Luke Conlan joining Miller back in the starting line up as Tom Barkhuizen and Paul Mullin dropped to the bench.
A poor pitch meant set pieces were going to be important and the first two chances of the game started from free headers at corners, Harrold nodding straight at Barry Roche before Alex Kenyon saw an effort cleared off the line by Jon Ashton on nine minutes.
It was a scrappy first quarter though, Miller seeing a volley from 25 yards go narrowly wide against a club he spent time on loan with last season.
Crawley began to exert a bit of pressure with their direct style of play nearly paying dividends shortly before the half hour as Shamir Fenelon hooked narrowly over as The Shrimps failed to deal with a Lanre Oyebanjo long throw.
Barry Roche then had to save well from the dangerous Gwion Edwards effort after a corner was only half cleared.
Morecambe nearly went in front right at the end of a forgettable first period but after Luke Conlan had brought a decent save from Paul Jones, Kevin Ellison could only head Jamie Devitt’s corner wide.
The Shrimps were behind nine minutes into the second half with Lyle Della-Verde’s centre only cleared into the path of Harrold who drilled home from 12 yards.
Even the goal didn’t spark the game into life with both sides rarely stringing passes together on a poor pitch, Della-Verde’s shot from distance easily saved by Roche.
With a forgettable game seemingly drifting to a conclusion The Shrimps were level with their first chance of the half seven minutes from time.
Doyle flicked the ball on into the path of Miller who kept his cool to shift the ball onto his left foot and fire in his 13th of the season to ensure the game ended honours even.
Crawley: Jones, Bradley (capt), Ashton, Dunne, Edwards, Bond, Sutherland, Della-Verde (Deacon 86), Harrold, Fenelon. Subs not used: Preston, Walton, Barnard, Young, Bawling, Yorwerth.
Morecambe: Roche, Edwards, Goodall, Doyle, Beeley (capt), Kenyon, Wildig (Barkhuizen 67), Conlan, Devitt (Mullin 78), Ellison, Miller. Subs not used: O’Hara, McGowan, Molyneux, Wilson, Parrish.
Referee: Iain Williamson