Morecambe’s second pre-season friendly ended in a narrow 1-0 defeat away at Chorley.
The only goal of the game came on 81 minutes through a controversial penalty for the home side after Ryan Delaney was harshly adjudged to have brought down Harry Scarborough, who stepped up to send Jokull Andrésson the wrong way from the spot.
In what turned out to be an entertaining game which saw both sides make large scale changes, it was the hosts who started brightly and forged a couple of early openings.
Jon Ustabasi showed his pace with a run on five minutes that ended with a shot into the side netting of the Morecambe goal.
Two minutes later and Chorley attacked again with purpose down the left wing with a cross that Harry Cardwell headed wide of the left hand post.
The Shrimps hit back with a well struck shot from Arthur Gnahoua which forced a fine save from Matty Urwin low to his left.
Chorley came again, this time through Billy Whitehouse who latched on to a poor pass from the Shrimps’ defence and tested Kyle Letheren low to his left.
The first clear chance for the visitors came on 24 minutes when Wes McDonald played in Gnahoua whose cross was diverted over the bar from close range by the Shrimps’ trialist.
Aaron Wildig then made a darting run toward goal following another excellent McDonald run, but Adam Henley produced a superb covering tackle to deny the Morecambe midfielder a shot on goal.
Wildig again went close five minutes before the break with a shot from the edge of the area that beat Urwin but rattled back off the left hand post.
The Shrimps made seven changes at the break and it was Chorley who created the first effort of the second half when a Cardwell free kick from 20 yards beat the Morecambe keeper but clipped the crossbar.
Morecambe’s first chance following the break came on 56 minutes when Anthony O’Connor met Wildig’s corner but could only direct his header straight at Unwin.
The hosts responded with Ustabasi who managed to break away down the left side before letting an effort fly that was just off target.
As the game swung from end to end, the Chorley goalkeeper produced a good save from Freddie Price’s effort before Jokull Andresson saved at full stretch from Willem Tomlinson.
Chorley’s persistence paid off and they were awarded a late penalty, which Scarborough converted, ultimately prompting a late rally from the Shrimps through Josh McPake who could only drill a low shot inches wide from just inside the box.
Chorley: Urwin, Henley, Blakeman, Halls, Leather, Smith, Whitehouse, Calveley, Cardwell, Tomlinson, Ustabasi
Subs Used: Isherwood, Shorrock, Baines, Okome, Reeves, Shenton, Hall, Scarborough, Owens, Trialist 1, Trialist 2
Morecambe: Letheren (rep Andresson 46), Jones (rep Mensah 46), Lavelle (rep Delaney 46), O’Connor, Gibson (rep Mayor 68), McDonald (rep McPake 46), Diagouraga (rep Rooney 68), Wildig (rep Pye 68), Gnahoua (rep Price 46,rep Jones 68), McLoughlin (rep McAlmont 46), Trialist (rep Stockton 46)