Morecambe 0-4 MK Dons
Sky Bet League One
The Mazuma Stadium
Saturday 27 August 2022
Kick-Off: 3:00pm
Attendance: 3,995 (279 away)
Morecambe lose 4-0 to MK Dons after a Will Grigg's double alongside second-half goals from Conor Grant and Matthew Dennis see the visitors pick up all three points.
The away side took the lead with the first real sight of goal, a well worked interchange of passing between Bradley Johnson and Grant saw the latter break free down the left, he drilled a ball into the six-yard box where Grigg was waiting to prod home from close range.
Three minutes before the half-an-hour mark and Liam Manning’s side came close to doubling their lead. A ball into the box from the right-hand side found the head of advancing full-back Daniel Harvie who put his effort onto the roof of Connor Ripley’s goal.
Derek Adams’ side had a chance of their own on the 32nd minute, a short corner by Jake Taylor was returned to him by midfield partner Ousmane Fane, the former Port Vale man picked out defender Ryan Delaney who was up from the back, but his headed attempt was superbly saved by Jamie Cumming.
MK Dons and Grigg had their second of the game moments later, another attack down the Shrimps’ right saw Harvie cross this time, Grigg on the move again guided his effort into the bottom-right corner of Ripley’s goal, leaving the ‘keeper with no chance.
Midfielder Jensen Weir was the next to try his luck for the home side, but Cumming was equal to it, before Darragh Burns forced a brilliant save from close range out of Ripley.
Half-time: Morecambe 0-2 MK Dons
New signings Kieran Phillips was introduced at the start of the second-half and it was the on-loan Huddersfield Town man that had the first chance after the restart. He was played through on goal but out came Cumming in the Dons goal to make a strong one-on-one save to deny him.
The Shrimps piled on the pressure after that with Arthur Gnahoua taking aim, but again, Cumming was there to preserve his clean sheet.
On the hour mark the home side should have had a goal back, Taylor played a delightful through ball in the direction of Jensen Weir, the on-loan Brighton man skipped past his defender before firing his effort of a post.
Their frustrations turned to anger just after the hour mark as the away side added a third. A mazy run by Henry Lawrence saw him slip through Grant who had the easy job of applying the finish.
MK Dons scored their fourth of the game on the 67th minute, Johnson this time with the ball through set substitute Dennis baring down on goal, he tucked his effort into the bottom-left corner of Ripley’s goal.
The Shrimps had the final effort on goal, with Weir testing Cumming from a free-kick, which the goalkeeper was equal to.
Full-time: Morecambe 0-4 MK Dons
Morecambe: Ripley, Love (C), Gibson, Rawson, Delaney, Taylor, Fane (Watts 71’), Connolly (McLoughlin 71’), Gnahoua, Weir, Bedeau (Phillips 46’)
Subs not used: Smith, Cooney, Mayor, Rooney.
Goals: None.
Bookings: None.
Red cards: None.
MK Dons: Cumming, Lewington (C), Tucker, O’Hora, Grigg (Dennis 46’), Johnson, Grant (Barry 78’), Burns (Smith 60’), Harvie (Jules 87’), Lawrence, Devoy (Robson 60’).
Subs not used: Ravizzoli, Oyegoke.
Goals: Grigg 17’, 37, Grant 62’, Dennis 67’.
Bookings: None.
Red cards: None.