MORECAMBE produced a fine performance to beat Cheltenham 4-0 on a memorable day for the Shrimps.
In front of a crowd boosted by the Shrimps’ Break the Gate offer, Jim Bentley’s side produced a clinical performance with four second half goals giving them the points.
Boss Bentley made five changes to the side that lost to Mansfield on Good Friday with Aaron Wildig, Luke Conlan, Piero Mingoia, Aaron Collins and Kevin Ellison all returning to the starting line up.
And it was a much improved performance through they were given a helping hand by some poor Cheltenham defending
Morecambe had the better of the first half and missed a golden chance to take the lead from the penalty spot in the 21st minute. Vadaine Oliver was tripped by Matt Bower in the box but Aaron Collins saw his effort saved by the feet of Robins’ keeper Scott Flinders.
The home side continued to look the more threatening with Aaron Wildig missing two great opportunities for the home side. His first came as he fired over from close range after being teed up perfectly by Collins before then seeing a shot cleared off the line by Charlie Raglan after being found in the box by Piero Mingoia.
Cheltenham’s only offer of note came from George Lloyd who drilled a shot from outside the box well over the bar.
The second half was one way traffic once Vadaine Oliver game the Shrimps a 49th minute lead when he got in behind the Cheltenham defender before slotting the ball under the onrushing Scott Flinders
Four minutes later the home side doubled their advantage from a corner. Piero Mingoia delivered the ball into the box and veteran Kevin Ellison was unmarked to head past Flinders from six yards out.
Cheltenham responded briefly with Luke Varney heading inches wide before the Shrimps made it 3-0 from another corner as Defender Sam Lavelle ghosted in at the far post to head Liam Mandeville’s corner past a crowd of bodies on the line from close range.
Jim Bentley’s side capped off a fine display with a fourth three minutes from time when Cheltenham were undone again by another long ball and Collins made amends for this penalty miss with a cool lob over the helpless Flinders from 12 yards to cap off a memorable afternoon for the home side.
MORECAMBE: Roche; Mills, Lavelle, Old, Conlan; Mingoia (Mendes-Gomes 72), Fleming, Wildig, Ellison (rep Cranston 87); Oliver (Mandeville 67), Collins. Subs not used: Halstead (Gk), Kenyon, Sutton, Hedley.
CHELTENHAM TOWN: Finders; Raglan, Tozer, Bower (Boyle 61); Broom, Thomas, Waters (Clements 61), Tillson, Pring; Lloyd (Bingham 61), Varney. Subs not used: Lovett (Gk), Addai, Forster.
REFREE: J Gillett
ATTENDANCE: 3,066 (169 from Cheltenham)