Morecambe grind out vital win in Yorkshire

A first minute goal from Carlos Mendes-Gomes gave Morecambe a vital win against Harrogate in their bid for promotion.

A stern defensive performance in the second half helped get the Shrimps over the line, which they had to do with 10 men for the last 15 minutes after Nathaniel Knight-Percival’s red card. 

Harrogate found joy from set pieces – particularly from the long throws of Dan Jones – but were unable to snatch a goal in a hard fought physical encounter, with both sides being set up around two target men in Aaron Martin and Cole Stockton.

Martin kept the Shrimps’ defence busy, but found himself facing an imperious Alex Kenyon on his return to the side, with their aerial battles an engrossing feature of the game.

Morecambe got their perfect start after neat play between Liam Gibson and Mendes-Gomes saw the attacker work his way into the box, and his deflected cross-shot bounced over the wrong footed James Belshaw for his 13th goal of the season (possibly to be disputed by the ‘dubious goals panel’).

That flying start continued for the Shrimps as they spent the first 15 minutes carving through the Harrogate defence.

A through ball from Stockton found John O’Sullivan, whose one-on-one attempt was well saved by Belshaw. Aaron Wildig then saw his effort blocked on the rebound, before Mendes-Gomes followed in and cannoned the ball off the post with Morecambe wondering how they had not just doubled their lead.

The Shrimps then had yet another early chance as a delightful lofted through ball from Mendes-Gomes bounced up to Stockton, whose lob was brilliantly tipped just round the post by Belshaw in a frantic opening for Town.

But despite early joy for Morecambe, the home side still looked a threat going forward, particularly from throws of Jones.

A quiet 15 minutes followed before Harrogate finally had their first good opening of the game. Simon Power did excellently to reach a ball down the line and hook a cross in towards Aaron Martin, who was only able to send his header just over the bar.

After a thrilling opening, the half looked to be slipping quietly towards half time with Connor Hall’s ever-rising volley and Wildig’s placed shot wide the only moments of vague note.

But just before the interval, Town suddenly had their best chance of the half as Martin was left inexplicably unmarked just outside the six yard box from a free-kick. Despite having ample time to pick his spot, Martin could only direct his header just wide of Kyle Letheren’s post as Morecambe carried their lead into the break.

The Shrimps came out resolutely in the second half, looking to keep shape and restrict Town, whose only real effort in the first 15 minutes of the half was George Thomson’s wild strike from range.

Long throws from Jones continued to be a threat for Town, though, and Martin had yet another great chance to level for the hosts from one but could only flash his header wide.

And after 65 minutes, Harrogate came close again from a throw as the usually solid Letheren misjudged and got under the the ball, only for it to sail straight out for a goal kick with no one getting on the end of it.

Those chances seemed to give belief to Harrogate, who pushed on looking for the equaliser and found more joy through set pieces – this time a corner having to be tipped over by Letheren.

As the game entered its final 15 minutes, Morecambe finally carved out their first real opening of the half. A powerful cross from Mendes-Gomes almost found O’Sullivan at the back post, but Jones was able to do enough to stop the wide man from scoring.

Just after the Shrimps’ best opening of the half, however, disaster struck as Knight-Percival cynically stuck out an arm to block a ball over the top, receiving a second yellow card over which he could have no arguments.

Thomson’s resulting free-kick was put out from a corner, and Town very nearly capitalised as Hall’s header came off the post and was blocked on the goal line, before the ball was somehow kept out in the resulting six yard box melee.

The Shrimps looked rattled, and got lucky again as substitute Mark Beck powered a header over from another corner as Harrogate looked to capitalise on their man advantage.

But after a couple of scares, the away side were able to regain their composure and settled into two banks of four, giving little to Harrogate who struggled to progress the ball up the pitch against a resolute wall of red.

Liam McAlinden came off the bench and contributed well for the Shrimps, winding the clock down by the corner flag and frustrating the home side.

Another blazed effort from range by Thomson was Town’s only real effort of the final 10 minutes, as Morecambe expertly saw the game out to claim a huge three points in their battle for the play-offs. 

Harrogate still maintain slim hopes of a play-off place in what has overall been a hugely successful first season in the Football League.