Accrington Stanley 2-2 Morecambe
Sky Bet League One
The Wham Stadium
Saturday 29 January
Kick-Off: 3:00pm
Attendance: 3,527 (1,168 Shrimps)
A Jonah Ayunga double gave the Shrimps a commanding 2-0 lead after 26 minutes, but goals from Colby Bishop and Michael Nottingham saw Stanley fight back for a point in an entertaining game at the Wham Stadium.
The first chance of the half fell to the home side as a corner from the right was headed wide by Ethan Hamilton at the back-post.
Ayunga had the chance to give the Shrimps the lead on the seventh minute, but his right-footed shot after a lovely through ball from Cole Stockton could not find the target.
He would not be denied after that, an inch-perfect through ball from Ayunga found Stockton, who took the ball on and managed to produce a shot which was well saved by Toby Savin in the Stanley goal, but there was Ayunga to fire in from just inside the penalty area.
After a flurry of Stanley corners, with one being expertly cleared off the line by Ryan Cooney, Stephen Robinson’s side strengthen their lead on the 26th minute.
Another perfectly-timed through ball from Stockton found Ayunga and his effort was too hot for Savin to handle in the Stanley goal, with the forward's shot going through the legs of the 20-year-old before finding the bottom-left corner of his goal.
10 minutes before the break, the hosts hit back from a corner. Sean McConville’s delivery somehow made its way to Bishop who was five-yards out to head home and pull Stanley back into the game.
With seconds of the half remaining, John Coleman’s Accrington side levelled the game. A late free-kick was put into a dangerous area by McConville and was headed home from close range by Michael Nottingham who was up from the back.
Half-time: Accrington Stanley 2-2 Morecambe
Eight minutes after the break, it was the Shrimps who had the first sighting of goal, Stockton picked the ball up just outside the area and let fly, but his stunning effort was well saved by Savin.
Stanley almost added a third moments later, as another McConville corner found Nottingham in the box, thankfully he could not sort his feet out and the ball bounced out of play for a goal-kick.
On the 59th minute, it was Stockton again who was presented with another opportunity, this time his right-footed effort was screwed wide of the mark, leaving a stranded Savin relieved.
With less than 25 minutes left of the affair, the home side came within inches of going in front for the first time in the game.
A drilled effort from Hamilton looked like it was heading into the bottom corner of Carson’s goal, but it dropped the right side of the post for the Shrimps this time around.
With the last attack of the game, the Shrimps almost wrapped up three points.
A darting run from Adam Phillips saw him beat his man before laying the ball back for Ayunga, but the striker’s flick could not find its way into the back of Savin’s net for the third time in this game.
Full-time: Accrington Stanley 2-2 Morecambe
Accrington Stanley: Savin, Hamilton, Sykes, Butcher, O’Sullivan, Pell, Bishop (Rich-Baghuelou 46’), McConville (C), Nottingham, Clark, Amankwah.
Subs not used: Isherwood, Rodgers, Mansell, Longelo, Nolan, Morgan.
Goals: Bishop 35’, Nottingham 45+3’.
Bookings: Rich-Baghuelou 85’, Butcher 88’.
Red cards: None.
Morecambe: Carson, O’Connor (C), Bedeau, Diagouraga, Stockton, Wildig (Phillips 63’), Ayunga, McLoughlin, Cooney, Gibson (Bennett 28’), Gnahoua.
Subs not used: Letheren, Obika, Mensah, Fane, Duffus.
Goals: Ayunga 14’, 26’.
Bookings: Diagouraga 38’, Carson 75’.
Red cards: None.