Doncaster Rovers 1-0 Morecambe
Sky Bet League One
The Keepmoat Stadium
Saturday 18 September 2021
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Attendance: 5,651 (410 away)
The Shrimps fall to narrow defeat against Doncaster Rovers at the Keepmoat Stadium.
The first chance of the game fell to the way of the Shrimps on two minutes, after an Arthur Gnahoua cross destined for the box was deflected wide, the resulting corner was sent deep but just about evaded everyone in its path.
Doncaster responded well and carved out a chance of their own three minutes later, but an onrushing Jokull Andresson made himself big and blocked the shot of the advancing Dons’ attacker with his chest, clearing the danger.
Efforts of note were few and far between in the opening stages as both sides looked to gain a foothold in the match.
Wes McDonald came closest for the Shrimps in the first half on 31 minutes after receiving a pinpoint pass from Gnahoua, but Pontus Dahlberg in the Doncaster goal was equal to the effort.
Further efforts from the likes of Shane McLoughlin and Cole Stockton came to nothing as Stephen Robinson’s side looked to increase the pressure on the hosts.
Morecambe could well, and possibly should, have been awarded a penalty on 42 minutes when Greg Leigh picked up the ball in the box and looked to round the goalkeeper, who looked to bring down the left back, but the referee disagreed and waved away protests from the men in black.
Half-time: Doncaster Rovers 0-0 Morecambe
The hosts came out of the blocks the quicker out of the two in the opening stages of the second half and created a few chances, most notably forcing defender Ryan Cooney to clear a shot off the line on 50 minutes.
Substitute Adam Phillips came close for the Shrimps on 62 minutes after the ball fell kindly to him, but the Burnley-loanee could only curl his effort around the wrong side of the far post.
It was Richie Wellens’ side who came closest to breaking the deadlock on 69 minutes when a fierce effort from the edge of the box was sent goalward, but Andresson did well to smother the ball and extinguish the danger.
12 minutes later and Rovers were ahead, courtesy of a Tommy Rowe header from a corner which looped beyond the reach of Andresson and nestled into the back of the net.
A late chance for Morecambe came in the 91st minute when the ball fell to Scott Wootton, but the defender’s volley sailed over the bar as the hosts held on for their first three points of the season.
Full-time: Doncaster Rovers 1-0 Morecambe
The Shrimps travel to Crewe Alexandra on Tuesday night for our rescheduled Sky Bet League One fixture that was postponed as a result of international call-ups.
Morecambe: Andresson, Leigh (Gibson, 71’), O’Connor, Wootton, Cooney, McDonald (McPake, 78’), Diagouraga, McLoughlin, McCalmont (Phillips, 57’), Gnahoua, Stockton
Subs not used: Letheren, Jones, Wildig, Delaney
Goals: None
Bookings: None
Red Cards: None
Doncaster Rovers: Dahlberg, Knoyle, Anderson, Williams, Close, Rowe, Smith, Hiwula (Cukur, 68’), Dodoo, Galbraith, Vilca (Seaman, 79’)
Subs not used: Jones, Olowu, Bostock, barlow, Gardner
Goals: Rowe, 81’
Bookings: None
Red Cards: None