MORECAMBE FOOTBALL CLUB

The Shrimps Women ended the 2022/23 campaign with a second successive victory at the Mazuma Stadium over Penrith Ladies.

Charlotte Gray opened the scoring before Stacey Harkness-Grant equalised; Yasmine Swarbrick fired the Shrimps ahead once more, though Kim McCormick thought she had rescued a point in the dying embers, but Nat Broad had other ideas with a last minute winner.

In what was a quick start for the Shrimps’ Women, Gray opened the scoring in spectacular fashion with a looping effort from distance which sailed over Heather Fawkes and into the back of the net.

The lead would last just nine minutes however, as Harkness-Grant netted an equaliser with a fierce strike.

Following their goal, the visitors looked to add a second midway through the first half, but after doing well to break through the Shrimps’ defence, Leah Johnston could only find the post.

As the half wore on, the game became more open and Ben Anderson’s side came close to a second following a swift counterattack as Hannah Paling broke through one on one, but her shot was straight at the goalkeeper.

Gray looked to add her name to the scoresheet for the second time just before the break, but Fawkes comfortably held her side-footed effort from the edge of the box.

Half-time: Morecambe 1 Penrith Ladies 1

The Shrimps started brightly in the second half, with skipper Swarbrick breaking through on goal, but her prodded effort sailed narrowly wide.

Moments later and Erin Menzies capitalised on a poor kick from the opposition goalkeeper but couldn’t keep the shot down.

Persistence paid off just before the hour mark when Swarbrick again found herself bearing down on goal, this time she was able to slot the ball underneath the onrushing goalkeeper and into the back of the net. 

Things nearly got better on 62 minutes when striker Broad tried her luck from distance with a powerful strike, the ball bounced back off the crossbar and into Swarbrick’s path, who forced Fawkes into a great save at point-blank range.

Morecambe’s tempo didn’t drop as Broad looked to add a third with a chipped effort, forcing Fawkes in the visiting goal to turn the ball behind for a corner.

At the other end, Penrith came inches away from an equaliser of real quality, only the crossbar was able to deny Harkness-Grant’s venomous strike.

With a minute of normal time to play, McCormick rocketed home an excellent strike from range to level proceedings, though it wouldn’t last long.

Broad, who was unlucky not to score earlier in the half, reinstated Morecambe’s lead seconds later after timing her run into the box to perfection and connecting with a cross to slot the ball home into an empty net.

Full-time: Morecambe 3 Penrith Ladies 2