Reserve Team Match Report: Fleetwood Town 4-0 Morecambe
A YOUNG Morecambe side bowed out of the Lancashire Senior Cup after a 4-0 defeat at Fleetwood.
A Gerard Garner hat trick fired Fleetwood to the semi-finals of the competition after the game played at Town’s impressive Poolfoot Farm training facility.
Fleetwood created a multitude of chances throughout the match, forcing Morecambe keeper Niall Maher into a number of fine saves.
The first 20 minutes was evenly matched, with both sides pumping crosses into the box without creating any meaningful chances.
As the game progressed, the home side began to get a foothold and started to test the Morecambe defence. Thomas Grant forced Maher to save his low shot to his right after 25 minutes.
Fleetwood continued to apply pressure as the first half progressed, Elliot Osborne and Grant kept the Morecambe defence busy with their shots.
The pressure paid off in the 39th minute, as Garner curled a brilliant shot into the top left corner from the edge of the box.
This sparked Morecambe into life, Leif Davis scuffed a shot off target minutes later as they threatened to grab a quick equaliser.
However, it was Fleetwood who ended the half the strongest, Garner having a shot cleared off the line, before Maher pulled off another save to keep the score at 1-0.
The second half saw Town come out strongly and added a second from the penalty spot through Osborne.
It wasn’t long after that Garner grabbed his second, and Town’s third, with a cultured finish as he rolled it past Maher into the bottom left corner, following a good run into the box.
Morecambe hit back with Urwin tipping a shot over his bar but Fleetwood added a fourth with the final kick of the game as Garner completed his hat trick with another fine finish, curling a shot in from the edge of the box.
Fleetwood - Urwin (GK) (c), Shorrock, Williams, Baines, Myers, Roberts, Osborne, Grant, Garner, Deacon, Bishop. Subs: Abubakar, Turner, Kerrigan, Dodd, Holgate
Morecambe – Maher (GK), Dutton Kay, Davis, Brownsword, Webb, Dawson, Jordan, Hedley (c), Hawley, Box, Yawson. Subs: Armstrong (Davis 45’), Ingham, Jenkinson (Hawley 51’), Fairclough (Dawson 69’), Nelligan