Match Report: Cheltenham Town 3-1 Morecambe
MORECAMBE'S misery continued with a seventh successive League 2 defeat as they went down to Cheltenham for the second time this season.
Two goals from Harry Pell and a penalty from Danny Wright earned the Robins the victory they needed themselves to lift them away from the danger zone.
The Shrimps made four changes to the starting line up and started the game well. They had a golden chance to open the scoring on 13 minutes when they were awarded a penalty after Paul Mullin had been brought down by Jordan Cranston.
Michael Rose stepped up to take the spot kick but saw his effort well saved by home keeper Scott Brown.
Rose was made to pay and even gave Cheltenham a helping hand as they took the lead on 33 minutes.
Rose gave the ball away cheaply from a free kick that left his side short at the back and Cranston took full advantage with a run and cross from the left that was met by Harry Pell who brushed past Alex Whitmore at the far post.
The Shrimps were fortunate to not go behind earlier when Aaron McGowan produced a superb goal line clearance to foil Dan Holman and the same Cheltenham player forced Barry Roche into a stunning save from a close range shot.
Morecambe’s only attack of note after the penalty came when Kevin Ellison broke free down the left but saw his excellent cross fly across the box.
Any hopes of a comeback in the second half were soon dashed as Cheltenham added a second on 47 minutes from the penalty spot. Kenyon handled an effort on the line and was sent off before Danny Wright sent Roche the wrong way from the spot.
The Robins added a third on 57 minutes when Pell scored his second with a blistering fee kick from the edge of the area that went straight through the Morecambe wall to give Roche no chance as it flew into the roof of the net.
Cheltenham then missed a string of chances before the Shrimps pulled one back on 78 minutes when a long throw from Rose caused problems for the home defence and Ryan Edwards’s flick came off William Boyle and ended up in the back of the net for a late consolation.
Cheltenham: Brown, Winchester, Onriase, Boyle, Cranston, Storer, Waters (Davis 75), Pell, Rowe (rep Dayton 86), Wright, Holman.
Subs not used: Barthram, Munns, Wootton, Lovett, Plavotic.
Booked: Boyle, Holman, Dayton.
Morecambe: Roche, Edwards, Whitmore, Winnard, McGowan (rep Hawley 86), Kenyon, Rose, Molyneux (rep Murphy 54), Widig (rep Evans 81), Mullin, Ellison. Subs not used: Wakefield, Nizic, Fleming.
Booked: Kenyon, Mullin, Winnard.
Sent off: Kenyon.
Ref: G Ward.