Morecambe recorded the first win in eight games with a 1-0 victory at Crewe Alexandra on Bank Holiday Monday. Kevin Ellison returned to a starting XI after a short spell out and scored the only goal of the game which lifted Morecambe back into the top half of the table.
Shrimps Manager Jim Bentley would have been in no doubt about how difficult this game would be, after all the Railwaymen had managed to put five goals past Bristol Rovers in their last game and, if you look at the stats it would be hard not to admit that maybe Crewe were a little hard done by not to get anything from the game.
Morecambe were looking for the win after a recent lapse in form had seen them drop from the play off places to mid table. During the opening stages of the game there was little sign of that changing as possession remained mostly with the home team.
Morecambe have been struggling for goals recently and it looked like that would continue as Crewe goalkeeper Steve Davis easily dealt with a couple of half chances.
Therefore it was somewhat of a surprise when Morecambe took the lead. Andy Parrish made a good run down the right flank and supplied the ball to the onrushing Kevin Ellison who made no mistake in firing the ball home.
A free kick on the edge of the box was whipped towards goal by Lee Bell but Barry Roche was able to tip the ball over the bar and Morecambe cleared their lines from the resulting corner.
Crewe then sparked into life and Roche was forced into making a hat trick of saves as the home side pushed for the equaliser.
Morecambe thought they had extended the lead before half time but Phil Jevons goal was ruled out for offside.
Nick Fenton could have made it 2-0 in the second half but his free kick came back off the upright as Morecambe pressed to secure the points.
The game came to life after the hour mark and there were chances both sides to score. Substitute Max Clayton had a shot at goal but the 17-year-old didn`t really do enough to test Roche. At the other end Lewis Allesandra almost ended the game as a contest but once again the woodwork came to the rescue for Crewe.
As the game drew to a close Crewe pressed again as they looked for the draw with AJ Leitch-Smith coming closest but Morecambe were able to hang on for the win.
Crewe: Phillips; Davis, Artell, Westwood, Tootle; Lowery, Dugdale, Bell (60), Moore; Powell (45). Leitch-Smith (88).
Subs: Martin, Murphy (60), Mellor, Clayton (45), Fletcher (88).
Morecambe: Roche; Parrish, Fenton, McCready, Wilson; McDonald, Hunter, Ellison (86), Alessandra, Jevons (75), Carlton (90). Subs; Routledge, Haining (86), Drummond (75), Fleming (90), Price.
Ref: M Naylor.
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