MORECAMBE FOOTBALL CLUB

The Shrimps were beaten 4-1 by title-chasing Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium. 

Goals from Josh Magennis, Jason Kerr, Stephen Humphrys and Will Keane gave the home side victory, with Dylan Connolly scoring his first goal for the Shrimps to provide a consolation.

Boss Derek Adams made two changes to the side that lost at Shrewsbury Town on Tuesday night, with Ryan Cooney and Arthur Gnahoua recalled in place of Alfie McCalmont and Liam Gibson.

The Shrimps were soon forced to defend as Wigan created several early half-chances with James McClean volleying well over after just 11 seconds, before Keane headed straight at Trevor Carson and Tom Naylor fired off target.

However the Shrimps' resistance was broken on 18 minutes when the home side took the lead as a cross from the right by Tendayi Darikwa met by Magennis at the near post, with his flicked header beating Carson. 

The vistors began to cause the home side some problems of their own.

Cole Stockton's volley was deflected just over the bar, before Aaron Wildig's volley forced a save from Ben Amos after the keeper failed to clear a Connolly cross confidently.

Jack Whatmough then sliced a Cooney cross inches wide of his own goal.

For the third game in succession the Shrimps dropped their guard and conceded just before half-time.

A right-wing corner was flicked on at the near post and Kerr was on hand to bundle the ball over the line from close range, despite the best efforts of Carson.

 

Morecambe hit back three minutes after the break from the penalty spot.

 

Stockton's shot hit the arm of a Wigan defender, Connolly stepped up and beat Amos from 12-yards to score his first goal for the Shrimps and reduce the deficit.

The comeback hopes were soon dashed as Wigan stepped up a gear and caused threatened again.

Humphrys forced Carson into a superb save low to his right with a shot from the edge of the box and Bedeau produced a vital block from Keane's shot.

Wigan made it 3-1 moments later as Carson punched away Darikwa's cross in the first instance, but the ball fell perfectly for Keane to head home his 19th of the season. 

 

Two minutes later the Latics extended their lead further, Humphrys saw a shot blocked but it bounced back directly into his path and he volleyed into the bottom-left hand corner of Carson's goal.

 

 

Wigan Athletic: Amos, Kerr, Whatmough, Tilt, Darikwa, Power (Shinnie 78'), Naylor, Power, Keane, Magennis, Humphrys (Edwards 88').

Subs not used: Jones, Watts, Pearce, Massey, Bennett.

 

Bookings: None. 

 

Red cards: None. 

 

Morecambe: Carson, Cooney, O'Connor, Bedeau (Gibson 88'), Leigh, Diagouraga, Wildig, McLoughlin (Phillips 74'), Gnahoua (Ayunga 88'), Stockton, Connolly.

Subs not used: Smith, Obika, Mensah, Fane. 

 

Bookings: Stockton 75'

 

Red cards: None.