North West Division 3.
Liverpool Sefton Men’s 2s 3 Morecambe Men’s 1s 5
Morecambe made the trip to Liverpool for their away fixture against Liverpool Sefton, a destination that has provided plenty of drama and mixed fortunes for Morecambe in recent years.
Morecambe were without key players, Steve Goodwin and Matthew Seddon and consequently Gordon Davidson and Luke Heap returned to the squad.
In blustery conditions, Liverpool Sefton started the game strongly, pushing Morecambe on to the back foot. The home side started well and created a number of good chances. Determined runs down the flanks, resulted in some excellent crosses that Morecambe struggled to deal with and were lucky to escape being punished.
Morecambe tried to get into the game, but struggled to produce the free-flowing passing play that has contributed towards their recent victories.
Liverpool Sefton managed to earn themselves a number of penalty corners and it was from one of these that the first goal came, when the ball was struck into the bottom corner of the net.
The introduction of Heap changed the game for Morecambe and it was some good work from the forward who left the defenders standing, before his deflected pass found Phil Molyneux in the circle. Molyneux still had work to do and he made no mistake, skilfully dribbling to the byline, before finishing from a tight angle to equalise.
Morecambe persevered and managed to get a grip on the contest, which was turning into a scrappy affair, as both sides battled for possession. They took the lead, when a goalkeeping error allowed Heap to finish coolly into an empty goal.
Morecambe’s tails were up and after a period of pressure they asserted themselves further with a slick set piece as Rob Pritchard hit home. His powerful completion of a penalty corner left the Sefton ‘keeper no chance.
Skipper Matt Wright’s half time team talk focused on consolidation, and warned that the home side would come out reinvigorated. His prediction was to be proved accurate as Sefton hauled themselves back into the contest when Craig Allison hesitated at the back, his clearance hitting an oncoming attacker and cruelly beating Morecambe goalkeeper Jack Lennon.
After the restart, Morecambe found their feet quickly and soon regained their two goal advantage. Pritchard made the most of a defensive error, drawing in Sefton’s backline before unselfishly finding his strike partner Molyneux. Morecambe’s leading scorer struck the post with his shot, but in the ensuing melee Crabtree found Heap with a seemingly perfect pass. And the confident forward found the space to finish expertly, for his second of the match.
The game came to a temporary halt soon afterwards as defensive midfielder Andrew Crabtree suffered one of the perils of the sport, as a stray opposition stick found the top of his head. The resulting injury saw the young player taken to hospital by ambulance for treatment.
After a ten minute stoppage, the game was put out of Sefton’s reach when Molyneux made a powerful run into the home side’s territory. In typical style, he skilfully found his way into the circle, before unleashing a trademark reverse strike for Morecambe’s fifth.
Sefton would strike once more late on in the game, but Morecambe were not to be denied another vital three points. The race for promotion continues.
Morecambe Men’s 1s: J. Lennon, S. Mounsey, I. Burstow, M. Wright (capt), C. Allison, A. Crabtree, M. Sambell, J. Davidson, N. Davey, R. Pritchard, P. Molyneux.
Subs. J. Belshire, L. Heap, G. Davidson.
Man of the Match: Luke Heap.
Matchball sponsor: Duncan Hall Financial Planning Services.
