Morecambe put in a superb performance to earn a 1-1 draw against Derby County at the Mazuma Stadium on Tuesday night.
Derek Adams’ side performed excellently and goalkeeper Connor Ripley made two outstanding saves to deny Derby from the penalty sport to help earn the Shrimps a point.
Morecambe had a good chance to take the lead early on when Caleb Watts' through ball put Kieran Phillips one on one with Derby goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith who produced a good save to deny the Shrimps man.
The Shrimps continued their bright start to the game as Jensen Weir laid the ball off to Adam Mayor who raced into the box and forced Wildsmith into another save.
Phillips had another good chance on 15 minutes when he used some excellent skill to beat several Derby players before his low shot was saved comfortably.
Derby were awarded a penalty on 38 minutes when Dobbin went down under Anthony O’Connor’s challenge. Shrimps goalkeeper Connor Ripley produced an excellent save down to his left to deny James Collins scoring from the spot.
The Rams came close to opening the scoring three minutes before the break but a good block by Anthony O’Connor saw Dobbin’s goal-bound effort deflect wide.
Morecambe took the lead in the second minute of added time at the end of the first half when the ball fell to Weir on the edge of the box. After controlling the ball excellently, his shot hit the right-hand post and found the net to give Derek Adams side the lead at the break.
Half-time: Morecambe 1 Derby County 0
The visitors were awarded another penalty less than a minute into the second half when Collins’ volley rattled the bar and the follow up was judged to have been blocked by O’Connor’s hand. Ripley was the Shrimps hero for a second time as he dived to his right to palm away David McGoldrick’s spot kick.
Paul Warne’s side came close moments later when Nathaniel Mendez-Laing found Collins in the box who volleyed wide.
Derby equalised just before the hour mark when Louie Sibley’s shot from the edge of the box found the bottom right corner.
The Rams substitute William Osula almost made an instant impact off the bench and put the visitors ahead, but the striker lifted his shot over the bar from close range with 15 minutes to go.
Morecambe had a great chance to take the retake the lead 12 minutes from time when substitute Dylan Connolly pulled it back to Ryan Delaney on the edge the box whose side footed effort was well blocked.
The Shrimps came close to a second as Connolly was about to burst through on goal but was fouled by Eiran Cashin. Despite the appeals for a red card, the Derby man was cautioned.
Morecambe continued to press for the winner and defended excellently during some late pressure from the visitors to add another point to the tally.
Full-time: Morecambe 1 Derby County 1
Morecambe: Ripley, Gibson, Delaney, Weir, Bedeau, Watts (Connolly, 61’), Shaw, Cooney, O’Connor, Phillips (Stockton, 74’), Mayor (Fane, 90’)
Subs not used: Smith, Rawson, Gnahoua, McLoughlin
Goals: Weir (45+2’)
Bookings:
Red cards:
Derby County: Wildsmith, Forsyth, Cashin, Bird ©, Collins, McGoldrick (Osula, 73’), Mendez-Laing (Thompson, 84’), Smith, Roberts, Sibley, Dobbin
Subs not used: Loach, Stearman, Oduroh, Rooney
Goals: Sibley (59’)
Bookings: McGoldrick, Cashin
Red cards:
Attendance: 5,157