MORECAMBE FOOTBALL CLUB

 

Two goals either side of half-time saw the Shrimps defeated on home soil against MK Dons on a windy afternoon at the Mazuma Stadium. Mo Eisa opened the scoring in the 23rd minute before a Matt O’Riley double and Harry Darling header wrapped up the points for the visitors.

 

The Shrimps put the visitors under some early pressure and came close to finding a breakthrough in the opening minutes. First Wes McDonald stole the ball and saw his strike steered wide by ‘keeper Andy Fisher before Callum Jones won possession and played the ball to Courtney Duffus who fired wide. 

 

In the 21st minute Liam Manning's side came close to taking the lead when skipper Dean Lewington played a long ball up to Scott Twine whose cross was met at the back post by Eisa. The Shrimps back-line managed to clear his strike in front of the goal-line to keep the score level.

 

Up the other end, Jonah Ayunga whipped a dangerous ball across the face of goal, however, nobody could get on the end of it to convert.

 

MK Dons took the lead a minute later when O’Riley threaded through to Eisa, who slotted past Andresson to put the Dons ahead.

 

The travelling side doubled their lead in the 40th minute when the Shrimps failed to clear their lines and the ball fell kindly to O’Riley who cut inside and struck home.

 

Two minutes later, Peter Kioso took aim from range however his effort was easily gathered by Andresson.

 

Twine twisted and turned his way into the box just before his break but the Shrimps’ stopper got his body infront of the ball to put it out for a corner and keep the deficit at two.

 

 

In what was the first real chance of the second half the Shrimps came close to pulling one back. A long ball up the field found substitute Arthur Gnahoua whose strike forced Fisher to palm the ball out for a corner.

 

The resulting corner was cleared and fell to the feet of Alfie McCalmont who looked destined to find the top corner, until Fisher pulled off a magnificent save to punch the ball over. 

 

Just after the hour mark, the Dons’ first chance of the second half resulted in their third goal of the game. Harry Darling headed powerfully into the net from Twine’s corner. 

 

Gnahoua let fly for the Shrimps on the edge of the area however his shot sailed wide of goal.

 

In the 74th minute Jones tried his luck but his strike rolled wide of the far post.

 

Ten minutes from time Gnahoua’s cross from the left found Ayunga however his first-time strike was claimed comfortably by Fisher. 

 

In the 82nd minute O’Riley added a fourth for the Dons after a quick free-kick. He fired into the far corner to add to round off the scoring in style. 

 

 

Morecambe: Andresson, R McLaughlin (Gibson 46’), Leigh, O’Connor, Jones, McDonald, Delaney, Ayunga, S McLoughlin,  McCalmont, Duffus (Ghahoua 46')

 

Subs not used: Da Silva Mendes, Diagouraga, Phillips, Cooney, Wooton

 

Goals: None

 

Bookings: S McLoughlin 32’

 

Red cards: None

 

MK Dons: Fisher, Lewington, O’Hora, Darling, O’Riley (Parrot 90’), Twine, Eisa (Brown 90+1), McEachran, Robson (Boateng 64’) Harvie, Kioso

 

Subs not used: Ravizzoli, Watson, Jules, Baldwin

 

Goals: Eisa 23’, O’Riley 40’,82’, Darling 64’

 

Bookings: O’Hora 34’

 

Red cards: None