MORECAMBE FOOTBALL CLUB

A goal each in the second half saw the Shrimps and Accrington Stanley play out a 1-1 draw at the Mazuma Mobile Stadium.

James Connolly netted his first of the season on 64 minutes before Tommy Leigh equalised from the spot six minutes later.

The visitors went in search of a fast start with a free kick from the edge of the Morecambe box. Up stepped Jack Nolan who looked to curl one low, which Stuart Moore was more than equal to.

On the back of his first goal of the season against Forest Green Rovers, Jordan Slew nearly netted again after meeting Michael Mellon’s cross at the back post, but it was straight at Jon McCracken who saved with his legs.

Moments later, at the other end, Moore was called into an action with an acrobatic diving save to his left to deny a Stanley strike from distance. 

Big chances at either end as the clock ticked over the half-hour mark; Mellon saw a volley from inside the box deflected behind for a corner before Matt Lowe’s flicked effort rolled narrowly wide of the right-hand post for the visitors.

Former Morecambe man Kelvin Mellor made a vital headed clearance to deny Jake Taylor firing the Shrimps ahead; he did well with a dinked effort before Mellor rescued the away side.

Similarly, just a matter of minutes later, Eli King produced a fine defensive header to deny Nolan’s curling effort.

Half-time: Morecambe 0 Accrington Stanley 0

Two early second half chances fell the way of the Shrimps through JJ McKiernan. First, a volley on the turn flew wide before the Northern Irish youth international broke through one on one, only to see he his effort blocked by McCracken and cleared by a defender.

Three minutes before the hour mark, Slew stung the palms of McCracken with a fierce strike from the left, the Stanley keeper at full stretch to deny the Shrimps an opener.

With 64 minutes on the clock, the Shrimps found a deserved opener. Slew fired the ball across the box and there waiting was Connolly whose deft touch sent the ball beyond the keeper and into the back of the net.

Six minutes later, the visitors were level from the penalty spot. Tom Bloxham was adjudged to bring down Shaun Whalley in the box before Leigh stepped up and converted from 12-yards.

Deep into second half added time, the Shrimps had a golden chance to take all three points when Slew found himself racing down on goal from the right, though his resulting shot was fired over.

Full-time: Morecambe 1 Accrington Stanley 1