Colby Bishop and Cole Stockton look to outscore each other in an all Lancashire battle

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Two footballers scoring braces in the same game is incredibly rare, but it was a feat accomplished by Cole Stockton and Colby Bishop the last time Accrington Stanley met Morecambe.

In the first meeting between the two sides since 2018, both players managed to get a brace as the Lancashire rivalry ended in an eventful 3-3 draw.

Stockton has seemed to transform as he has aged into a striker that terrifies many defences in League One.

The Huyton-born forward is experiencing the peak of his career so far, hitting the net 20 times in 31 games, surpassing his previous all-time best of 15 goals in all competitions which he set last season.

Something is enchanting about the 27-year-old’s rise in the last few years from almost ridiculed to the type of player which makes supporters of his previous teams question their former judgement.

It is safe to say that Stockton has found a home in the Morecambe number nine shirt. Maybe the lack of pressure and lower expectations compared to those at some of his former clubs have helped him to settle.

Now, the Shrimps’ talisman is a marked man with much of the opposition attention spent on preventing the stocky forward from getting a sight of goal.

When Stephen Robinson’s side need a hero, it tends to be Stockton, as he demonstrated last time out against Wycombe Wanderers.

Morecambe were 2-1 down to the side that topped the table going into the game, but the former Tranmere Rovers striker forced David Stockdale into parrying his shot out only as far as Jonah Ayunga, who levelled the game up at 2-2.

To top off the comeback, Stockton latched onto Ayunga’s lofted pass and carefully guided the ball past Stockdale to give his side a vital three points as they aim to escape the drop.

If Morecambe are to take anything from their Lancashire rivals, it is likely that Stockton will be at the epicentre of the action.

At the other red team in Lancashire, the story of Bishop is equally inspiring.

The Nottingham-born striker was plying his trade for Leamington in the National League North as recent as 2019 when his impressive performances for the Brakes secured a move to John Coleman’s side.

Bishop has managed to reach double figures in his first two seasons for Stanley, which was unexpected considering the frontman’s lack of previous game time in the Football League.

Hardworking is the best way to describe the 25-year-old striker. He specialises in defending from the front, but this does not stop the Stanley number nine from scoring the odd spectacular effort.

Running the channels is a key component for a striker in the EFL and Bishop has seemed to master the skill to perfection, allowing his side to gain territory up the pitch due to his unselfish work.

The former Notts County striker has lost his partner in crime, Dion Charles, with the Northern Irishman leaving to go to Bolton Wanderers, so there is a bit more pressure on the Accrington number nine.

Despite it being a clash between two Lancashire clubs, it is not quite seen as a derby between the two sets of fans. However, Accrington Stanley boss John Coleman regards the game as having a different feel to most other fixtures.

“Having played in the fixture for Morecambe against Accrington, I know it’s a special game and I know they will be buoyed by a good win last week, it will be a bumper crowd and a good atmosphere.

“I did the play-off semi-finals for Radio Lancashire and there was no one happier than me that Morecambe got promoted.

“Everyone knows my affinity to them and I had my best footballing years there. I met a lot of really good people with who I am still good friends with. I want Morecambe to do well, just not against us.”

Coleman spent six years at the Shrimps as a player, so there is a level of affection towards the visitors to the Wham Stadium from the Stanley manager.

No doubt the clash will be a feisty affair, but if both sides focus on producing a spectacle as high in excellence as the last encounter, then it could be another memorable game.

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