Match Report: Grimsby Town 1-1 Morecambe
MICHAEL Rose scored a stunning free kick to earn the Shrimps a battling point at Rodney Parade.
Rose scored one of the goals of the season so far when he deceived almost everyone in the ground out with a 35 yard effort that flew past home keeper Joe Day who was expecting a cross into the area but was caught out at his near post.,
Boss Jim Bentley made three changes from the side that beat Crawley on Saturday with Kevin Ellison, Aaron Wildig and Luke Conlan all returning to the starting line up with Antony Evans and Lee Molyneux dropping to the bench and Dean Winnard ruled out late in the afternoon.
It was a tough start for the Shrimp and Newport took the lead in the 19th minute through the scrappiest of goals.
The Shrimps struggled to clear their lines and the home side saw two efforts blocked before the ball fell neatly for Aaron Williams at the far post and the striker made no mistake from close range with a neat finish to beat Barry Roche from six yards out.
The goal was coming in many after the home side had been denied what looked to be a clear penalty on 13 minutes when Ryan Edwards handled in the box but the penalty pleas were waved away.
From there Craig Reid saw two efforts well saved bv Roche as Graham Westley’s side dominated the early stages of the game.
After a sluggish start Morecambe came into the game and forced a string of corners. Ryan Edwards headed one just over and Alex Whitmore saw a similar effort fly over.
The Shrimps were much better in the second half with Luke Conlan forcing Day to tip over at full stretch with a cross come shot.
Rose fired a warning shot with a free kick on 59 minutes that forced Day into a decent save before his cheeky goal just after the half hour.
Newport staged a late rally on the Morecambe goal and Roche was forced to make a brilliant save from Ryan Edwards as his team mate diverted a left wing cross towards hos own goal on 82 minutes.
Rhys Turner looked set for a run on goal but the ball held up in the mud and Aaron Wildig headed straight at Rose from a good opening.
Newport looked to press at the end of the game and missed a golden chance at the death when the linesman failed to flag for a clear offside but Ryan Bird failed to take advantage when he had time and space in the box.
Newport: Day, Pipe, O’Brien (rep Owen-Evans 71), Demetriou, Samuel, Rose, Flynn, Butler, Reid (rep Jackson 90) Williams (rep Gordon 79), Bird. Subs not used: Bittner, Bignot, Parselle, Bojaj.
Morecambe: Roche,.Wakefield, Whitmore, Edwards, Conlan (rep Molyneux 83), Rose, Fleming, Ellison, Wildig (rep Evans 83), Turner, Mullin (rep McGowan 71),
Subs not used: Nizic, Hedley, Jordan,
Ref: G Salisbury
Att: 1,989