MORECAMBE skipper Sam Lavelle received the perfect birthday present with three points against in-form Port Vale on Saturday taking the Shrimps to second in League 2.
Lavelle, who turned 24 on Saturday, played a major part in a solid defensive performance by the Shrimps who won the game courtesy of a 75th minute Adam Phillips penalty.
Sam said: “It was a scrappy game, a very League 2 game, but encouraging to come out the other side of it with a win.
“Last season I think we would have rolled over and lost the game so to come through it was good.
“It probably wasn’t the best of games to watch for the neutral but I’ll take the 1-0 win all day, especially in the conditions.
“From a defensive point of view, I was really happy with the clean sheet because we haven’t had one for a while and they are hard other in League 2.
“We were due a clean sheet and it was good to get one. We kept a good shape and defended their crosses well and despite their pressure, they didn’t break us down. From Cole Stockton back we defended really well as a team and had a great shape.
“It was great to get the three points on my birthday and keep our good start going. To start well is massive for us as it was as good a birthday present I could have wished for as I can’t celebrate in too many other ways at the moment.’'