Match analysis: Morecambe 0 Accrington Stanley 1 (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Match analysis: Morecambe 0 Accrington Stanley 1

11:51am Wednesday 7th November 2007

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THERE was more than the three points up for grabs in this first ever Football League Lancashire derby between Morecambe and Accrington Stanley.

There was pride and the bragging rights to be had at a chilly Christie Park.

And thankfully for Stanley they went home with all three.

But the Lord only knows how they clung on as Morecambe threw everything but the stone jetty at Stanley in a one-sided second half.

John Coleman was a legend for Morecambe in the 1990s as the Reds boss scored over 200 goals in just under 300 appearances for the Shrimps.

But he wasn't flavour of the month last night as his side completed a classic backs-to-the-wall raid against one of their closest rivals.

Coleman reverted back to the 3-5-2 system that had brought him so much success in recent weeks with Northern Ireland international Sean Webb restored to the starting line-up and Shaun Whalley dropping to the bench.

And the visitors had the first chance in just the second minute when Ian Craney's corner found the head of Robbie Williams and he brought a smart stop from former Blackburn Rovers trainee Steven Drench.

However, it was the Shrimps who did most of the attacking in the early stages with Garry Thompson posing a few questions down the right flank.

But Sammy McIlroy's side only had a wayward Carl Baker effort to show for their territorial domination.

At the other end, Stanley should have been ahead after 13 minutes when another corner caused chaos in the Shrimps box.

The ball, after an inadvertent one-two with Paul Mullin, eventually fell to the feet of Mark Roberts who smashed it in off the underside of the bar.

The ball looked to have crossed the line but it was put out for a corner.

But the Reds took the lead from the resulting corner as the Shrimps failed to clear their lines.

The ball was fed out to Craney who sent in a curling shot, that took a nick off Roscoe Dsane, but on-loan Sheffied United defender Ryan Cresswell deflected it into the net.

The goal brought a shower of till rolls that covered the Stanley box, in scenes reminiscent of the 1978 World Cup, which held the game up for two minutes.

Going a goal down brought a positive response from the Shrimps.

First, former Blackpool striker Matt Blinkhorn had a header repelled by Ian Dunbavin and then Wayne Curtis out-muscled Sean Webb to power down the left and brought a decent save from Dunbavin.

But from the resulting corner, on 28 minutes, Shrimps skipper Jim Bentley missed a sitter as the Stanley keeper flapped at a cross but the big defender lashed a volley wide from the penalty spot.

But, defensively, the Shrimps were naive to say the least, leaving huge gaps in midfield for Stanley to exploit.

And they almost paid the penalty on the half-hour as they sat off the raiding Jay Harris before allowing him to feed Roscoe Dsane.

His shot was going in until Bentley got his big frame in the way and just avoided scoring the second own goal of the night as the ball bobbled wide.

Stanley were lucky not to concede a penalty when Graham Branch tripped Carl Baker right in the corner of the box but Mark Halsey waved away any protests.

And the home side were booed off at the break after an average first half.

But with McIIroy's words still ringing in their ears, Morecambe looked a very different propsotion after the interval.

And those jeers almost turned to cheers just a minute after the re-start when Thompson managed to break into the box, but he was foiled by Dunbavin and then Blinkhorn almost put home the rebound before Curtis saw his shot deflected to safety.

Skipper Cavanagh, who was an inspiration for the visitors, pulled out an awesome tackle and then a heroic block to deny Blinkhorn as the Shrimps poured forward.

Then Dunbavin produced an excellent save from a Baker curling free-kick from just outside the box on 58 minutes.

But Stanley still carried a threat on the counter with the dark Blue shirts breaking in numbers at every chance.

Baker went close again from a free kick just after the hour but fizzed his shot over the bar.

Jay Harris came to his side's rescue again on 75 minutes with a flying goalline clearance from Curtis as the Shrimps penned Stanley in.

The home side battered Stanley as they won corner after corner but they couldn't find a way past Dunbavin.

Cresswell almost made amends for his earlier clanger as he smashed a ball just over the bar in the dying minutes.

The fourth official somehow found four minutes of stoppage time for Stanley to endure.

But despite Morecambe's avalanche of pressure, the final whistle was met with ecstacy from the 396 travelling fans who had made the short trip up the M6.

It wasn't the most convincing win, but who cares?

Three points and their first clean sheet in five games are the only stats that matter.

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