The Shrimps played out an entertaining 3-3 draw with Swindon Town on the final day.
An eventful first half which produced four goals saw Charlie Austin’s opener cancelled out by Joe Adams. Academy product Adam Fairclough then fired the Shrimps in front before Austin levelled before the break. Williams Kokolo then scored Town’s third of the afternoon in the second half and, four minutes before the 90, Cammy Smith netted a third for the away side.
The first chance of the afternoon fell to Morecambe. Charlie Brown played a short one-two from the corner before whipping the ball toward the back post, Kayden Harrack was outstretched to meet the cross but couldn’t hit the target.
Moments later, the home side’s first attempt produced the opening goal. Sean McGurk’s crossed free kick into a congested penalty area found the head of Austin who, in turn, diverted the ball home.
Looking for a quick response, Nelson Khumbeni rocketed an effort at goal after Brown was initially dispossessed while looking for a way through into the opposition box, though Jack Bycroft was equal to the strike.
Another opportunity for Ged Brannan’s men came on 13 minutes and it fell to Joe Adams. Brown capitalised on a defensive mistake and Khumbeni threaded the ball through to the Wigan Athletic loanee, though his effort lacked direction to properly test the goalkeeper.
Two minutes later, and the Shrimps were level. Cammy Smith with the ball at his feet in the box laid off Adams whose strike took a deflection, wrong-footing Bycroft and nestling in the back of the net.
In what was already a memorable moment for Academy product Fairclough, with a first senior start, things got even better on 21 minutes. After Brown’s attempt from close range was initially blocked, there was the youngster in the right place at the right time to slam the ball home.
With 10 minutes of normal time to play in the first half, Austin found space down the middle of the Shrimps’ defence, ran onto Frazer Blake-Tracy’s pass and levelled proceedings with his second of the game.
Half-time: Swindon Town 2 Morecambe 2
In stark contrast to the first half, the second 45 produced far fewer chances for either side.
Cammy Smith came close to adding a third for Morecambe ten minutes in with a looping effort from the right-hand edge of the box, but the ball bounced wide of its intended target.
At the other end, David Tutonda produced a perfectly timed tackle just as Paul Glatzel looked to pull the trigger inside the box, though the angle was against the Swindon man.
On 74 minutes, a counterattack launched to perfection saw the home side take the lead. A quick breakaway from Town saw Dawson Devoy cross to the back post and there was Kokolo with a first-time finish to complete a devastating move on the break.
The Shrimps came close to an equaliser in comical fashion on 83 minutes when Gwion Edwards’ cross was deflected by Conor McCarthy onto his own crossbar and over.
Minutes later, the equaliser did come. Substitute goalkeeper Redman Evans could only palm Edwards’ fierce drive into the path of Smith who made no mistake with the rebound.
Deep into added time, Edwards had a chance to win the game but saw a drive saved by an onrushing Evans.
Full-time: Swindon Town 3 Morecambe 3
Swindon Town: Bycroft (Evans, 68’), Blake-Tracy, Glatzel (Drinan, 71’), McGurk (Devoy, 62’), Cain, Kokolo, McCarthy, Austin ©, McGregor (Elbouzedi, 62’), Hunt (Godwin-Malife, 62’), Ofoborh.
Subs not used: Aguiar, Brown.
Goals: Austin (05’, 35’), Kokolo (74’).
Bookings: McCarthy.
Red cards: None.
Morecambe: A Smith, Love ©, Tutonda (Rawson, 80’), Adams (Rooney, 80’), C Smith, Edwards, Brown, Harrack, Threlkeld (Davenport, 80’), Khumbeni (Songo’o, 66’), Fairclough (Larsson, 58’).
Subs not used: Mair, Senior.
Goals: Adams (15’), Fairclough (21’), C Smith (86’).
Bookings: None.
Red cards: None.
Attendance: 8,859 (204 away).
