Morecambe 1-2 Crewe Alexandra
Wednesday 29 December 2021
The Mazuma Stadium
Sky Bet League One
Attendance: 3,831 (432 away)
Two second-half goals saw the Shrimps fall to a disappointing defeat at home to Crewe Alexandra.
Crewe started the game sharply and forced a string of early corners with one almost ending with a chance as the ball rebounded in the Shrimps' area, but thankfully evaded any of the visiting forwards.
On six minutes Tom Lowery drilled in a left foot shot from 20-yards that hit the side netting of Kyle Letheren’s goal.
After a slow start the game, the Shrimps came into it with Aaron Wildig curling an effort wide of the right-hand post from the edge of the box, and Jonah Ayunga forcing a save from Dave Richards with a right-footed shot from 12-yards out.
The Railwaymen hit back again as Ainley went on a mazy run towards the Shrimps' box before eventually pulling the trigger, which was diverted just wide of the left-hand post.
It was the home side who then drew first blood as they took the lead on 36 minutes.
Ayunga showed great persistence down the right and put in a cross that looked to be behind Greg Leigh, but the full-back twisted in mid-air and directed the ball past Richards.
Half-time: Morecambe 1-0 Crewe Alexandra
The game turned on its head in the second-half as the visitors scored two goals in four minutes to grab the lead.
The first came on 52 minutes with a close range header from veteran striker Chris Porter from a Tom Lowery cross.
They took the lead four minutes later with a superb 25-yard volley from captain Luke Murphy looping an effort into the top-left corner of Letheren's goal.
The Shrimps tried to find a way back into the game with Aaron Wildig volleying over a great chance from close range and Ayunga forced Richards into a fine save low to his left, after a swift counter-attack.
The Shrimps ended the game on the front foot but failed to find their way through a resolute Crewe defence.
Full-time: Morecambe 1-2 Crew Alexandra
Morecambe: Letheren, Jones, McLaughlin, O'Connor, GIbson, Leigh, Wildig (McDonald 70), Phillips (Diagouraga 48), McLoughlin, Ayunga, Obika (Gnahoua 69).
Subs not used: Andresson, Delaney, Mensah, Harrison.
Goals: Leigh 37’.
Bookings: None.
Red cards: None.
Crewe: Richards, Ainley (Johnson 76), Offord, Williams, Sass-Davies, Adebisi (Ramsay 52), Lowery, Finney (Robertson 84), Murphy, Porter, Mandron.
Subs not used: Jaaskelainen, Gomes, Daniels, O’Riordan.
Goals: Porter 52’, Murphy 58’
Bookings: Adebisi 42’, Murphy 59’
Red cards: None.