Morecambe secured a point on the road on Saturday, in a 1-1 draw at Wycombe Wanderers.
A late strike from youngster Adam Mayor was the all-important moment, as the Shrimps showed real fight and desire during the match, particualrly in the second half.
Morecambe were defending well in the early stages at Adams Park, and having to deal with a number of efforts on goal. The first on eight minutes, as some good man-marking meant Wycombe had to chance their luck from outside of the box with Lewis Wing’s first-time strike sent whistling over the bar.
Morecambe’s first effort on goal came moments later, as Caleb Watts did well on the flank to cut inside and fire a shot at goal, but Max Stryjek in Wycombe’s goal was able to save well.
Despite some impressive defending and martialling at the back, the hosts took the lead on 20 minutes, as a cross from the left was headed past Connor Ripley by Chris Forino, who leapt the highest to give Wycombe the lead.
The hosts thought they’d doubled their lead soon after, as Sam Vokes headed home a cross deep in the box, but the referee ruled it out for a push in the build-up.
Morecambe then had their best chance on goal just after the half hour mark, as a well-worked corner saw Anthony O’Connor’s shot blocked by multiple bodies in the box. The ball fell to Caleb Watts who took a touch and fired a shot at goal, only to see it go just wide of the post.
Connor Ripley made a fantastic stop late in the first-half to tip behind a long-range strike, with the Shrimps finding themselves a goal down at the break.
Half-time: Wycombe Wanderers 1 Morecambe 0
Connor Ripley was forced into an early save in the second half, as Sam Vokes hit an effort on the volley, but Morecambe’s number one did well to beat it away.
Morecambe were forcing the issue and trying to create a chance on goal. Some fantastic build-up play as an hour passed between Jensen Weir and Liam Shaw allowed the latter to shoot on goal, only for the goalkeeper to beat it away.
Derek Adams made a number of changes as the half went on, with Adam Mayor and Cole Stockton introduced to add some fire power up top.
And it was Mayor who made an immediate impact, as his strike from distance in the final ten minutes took a deflection and clipped the post out for a corner kick. Mayor took the corner, with the ball whipped in and going directly over the line to get a deserved equaliser for the Shrimps and his first league goal.
That late goal brought huge drama, as Adam Mayor once again had a chance in the final moments with his shot well saved, only for Wycombe to then have the ball in the back of the net at the other end, only for the referee to blow for a foul on Connor Ripley.
A well-deserved point gained on the road for the Shrimps, in an entertaining encounter at Adams Park.
Full-time: Wycombe Wanderers 1 Morecambe 1
Wycombe Wanderers: Stryjek, Jacobson ©, Forino, Vokes, Wing, Mehmeti, McCleary (Hanlan, 77’), Mawson, Freeman, Obita, McCarthy.
Subs not used: Blunknell, Grimmer, Wheeler, Kaikai, Horgan, Mellor.
Goals: Forino (20’)
Bookings: Mawson.
Red cards: None.
Morecambe: Ripley, Love ©, Gibson, Delaney, Weir (McLoughlin, 81’), Bedeau, Watts (Stockton, 62’), Shaw, Cooney, O’Connor, Phillips (Mayor, 73’).
Subs not used: Smith, Connolly, Gnahoua, Obika.
Goals: Mayor.
Bookings: Weir, Gibson, Love.
Red cards: None.
Attendance: 6,263