MORECAMBE FOOTBALL CLUB

Morecambe progress to the next stage of the Papa Johns Trophy despite losing late against Harrogate Town.

The Shrimps started the game perfectly, and it was youngster Adam Mayor who fired his side ahead with his first senior goal. 

Mayor reacted quickest to a defensive error in the Harrogate box and struck on the turn from close range, leaving Mark Oxley no change in the hosts’ goal.

Nine minutes later and it was very nearly two, after Kieran Phillips found himself closing down on goal, but his resulting chip failed to find its intended target.

Arthur Gnahoua came close to doubling Morecambe’s advantage on 14 minutes, his powerful strike from inside the box on the right stung the palms of Oxley, who did well to turn it behind for a corner. 

Town’s first real chance of note came on 19 minutes, when Tyler Frost found space to run into, but his eventual strike from distance was comfortably collected by Adam Smith.

The hosts found an equaliser nine minutes later through Finn O’Boyle who struck home a powerful effort following a scramble in the Morecambe box. 

Moments after the half-hour mark, Phillips timed his run to perfection and managed to round Oxley, but his effort on goal was deflected behind.

Half-time: Harrogate Town 1-1 Morecambe. 

In what was an even start to the second half, the Shrimps looked to get in behind the Harrogate defence on 52 minutes, but Lewis Richards’ last minute tackle was timed to perfection to deny Morecambe’s attack developing further.

Just past the hour mark, Matty Daly picked up possession and ran at the Morecambe defence before cutting inside and unleashing an effort on goal, though Anthony O’Connor did well with the block. 

Moments later and Sam Folarin picked up the ball to the left of the Shrimps box, but his effort was too tame to test Smith.

It was Folarin again who should’ve fired Harrogate in front, but his effort from close range was blasted over the bar on 69 minutes. 

10 minutes from time and O’Boyle came close to adding his, and Harrogate’s, second of the evening, but a last-second interception by Anthony O’Connor denied the youngster. 

Shortly afterwards and it was Derek Adams’ men who came close taking the lead; Jacob Bedeau played an inch perfect pass into the path of Phillips, but the striker was unable to find the target.

Five minutes before time and it was Morecambe again who came agonisingly close to claiming maximum points, Mayor broke through down the left, his effort was blocked and the resulting cross into the mix was met by Phillips, whose header cannoned back off the crossbar. 

The hosts won the game following a late corner where Welch-Hayes reacted quickest to prod the ball home in the dying moments.

Full-time: Harrogate Town 2-1 Morecambe. 

Harrogate Town: Oxley, Welch-Hayes, Thomson ©, Folarin (Muldoon, 74’), Richards, Austerfield, Frost, Ferguson, Horbury (Ramsay, 76’), Daly, O’Boyle.

Subs not used: Jameson, Falkingham, Grant, McArdle, Ilesanmi

Goals: O’Boyle 28’, Welch-Hayes 90+6’.

Bookings: None.

Red cards: None.

Morecambe: Smith, Gibson, Delaney (Fane, 67’), Connolly (Bedeau, 67’), Gnahoua, Weir (Shaw, 67’), McLoughlin (Watts, 72’), Cooney, O’Connor, Phillips, Mayor.

Subs not used: Ripley, Rawson.

Goals: Mayor 02’.

Bookings: Smith 52’.

Red cards: None.