The young Shrimps bowed out of the FA Youth Cup following tonight’s 2-1 defeat to Fleetwood Town in round two at the Mazuma Mobile Stadium.
Lennon Dobson gave the hosts the lead on 14 minutes, but goals either side of the interval from Fleetwood saw them progress to round three.
The game started with a plethora of opportunities for both sides with the first falling for Shrimps’ winger Callum Cooney following a through ball from central midfielder Nathan Mercer, but the visitors ultimately cleared the danger.
Ollie Ras’ side provided a strong press on 14 minutes and through that they won possession. The ball finally fell for attacking midfielder Jack McKean before he found fellow midfielder Lennon Dobson, who rifled home from the edge of the box to give Morecambe the advantage.
Shrimps’ goal lifted their confidence and they went on to create a number of further chances soon after, but were unable to bag their second goal of the night.
Fleetwood grabbed the leveller on 31 minutes as winger Liam Roberts’ cross found arriving midfielder Harvey Fletcher, who stabbed home into the bottom corner to restore parity for the visitors.
McKean came close to putting Morecambe ahead near to the break as he lashed an effort towards Oliver Bellizia’s goal but the ‘keeper managed to make the stop.
Half-time: Morecambe 1-1 Fleetwood
Shrimps’ winger Adam Fairclough created the first big chance of the second-half as he whipped a ball to the back post for forward Saul Fox-Akande, but the latter was unable to connect.
Moments later, Fleetwood went up the other end and after three efforts in quick succession, winger Hermann Daha eventually prodded his side in front.
The visitors came close to extending their lead further on 58 minutes but goalkeeper Alfie Scales managed to get down low and make a tremendous stop.
Ollie Ras made his first alteration of the night with 75 minutes on the clock, which saw midfielder Lewis Ballantyne replace Jack McKean.
Three minutes later, Fleetwood were down to ten men. Attacker Mikey Lane was shown a straight red card following a verbal altercation with the assistant referee on the near side.
Fairclough came close but his header fell the wrong side of Bellizia’s post on 88 minutes, following a cross from Cooney.
A minimum of eight additional minutes were to be played at the end of the second-half, which included the introduction of forward Billy Whaite, as Cooney was withdrawn.
Despite giving it everything they had, Ollie Ras’ side narrowly fell short as Fleetwood Town progressed to round three of the FA Youth Cup.
Full-time: Morecambe 1-2 Fleetwood Town
Morecambe: Scales, Lynchey, Evans (C), L. Holden, V. Wright, Dobson, Mercer, McKean (75’ Ballantyne), Fairclough, Cooney (90+1’ Whaite), Fox-Akande
Subs not used: Ascroft, Sowerby, Crane, M. Holden, O. Wright
Fleetwood Town: Bellizia, Cirino, Thompson, Smith, Butterworth, Hughes (C), Daha (89’ Elmore), Fletcher, Lane, Doherty (69’ Richmond), Roberts (81’ Haughey)
Subs not used: Woodward, Eccles, Animasaun, Currie