MORECAMBE FOOTBALL CLUB

 

Morecambe won their second Papa John's Trophy penalty shoot-out of the campaign to take the extra point against Hartlepool United after a goalless 90 minutes.

 

The Shrimps, who made nine changes for the game, could not break down a resolute Hartlepool defence in the 90 minutes but followed up shoot-out wins against Stoke City in the League Cup and Everton in the previous Papa John's game with another set of cool penalties.

 

The first-half produced few chances, but the Shrimps looked the more likely to score.

 

Arthur Gnahoua produced the first effort on six minutes with a shot from the edge of the area which produced a fine stop from Ben Killip low to his right.

 

From there, Dylan Connolly put in a number of quality low crosses, but it took until a few moments before half-time for the next chance to come when Jon Obika volleyed Shane McLoughlin's cross-field ball over at full stretch.

 

 

Hartlepool made three changes at the break which gave them an extra edge going forward.

 

Mark Shelton twice fired wide from distance before forcing Smith into a fine save just before the hour with another strike from distance.

 

Ferguson also tested Smith with a free kick fifteen minutes from time before the Shrimps ended the game on top.

 

Kieran Phillips looked sharp after coming off the bench and raced into the box, his first effort was blocked by Killip and the keeper also reacted sharply to save from Stockton's follow up to take the game to penalties.

 

 

Jensen Weir, Cole Stockton, Ryan Cooney and Donald Love all struck home from 12 yards whilst Shrimps' keeper Adam Smith made two superb saves from Hartlepoool's first two spot kicks to deny Euan Murray and David Ferguson respectively.