Morecambe 2019/20 season review: September offers no respite for struggling Shrimps

This week, we go back to September which brought little in the way of respite after a tough opening month...

The Shrimps had gone into their second month of the season sitting 20th in League Two and with only one league win to their name.

Six matches lay ahead for Jim Bentley’s players but a win of any description would prove hard to come by.

It was a cup game which opened the month as Morecambe travelled to Blackpool for their first EFL Trophy group game.

Simon Grayson’s in-form Seasiders put the Shrimps to the sword, running out 5-1 winners at Bloomfield Road.

A much-changed Morecambe line-up fell behind after four minutes when Ben Heneghan headed home a corner.

Jordan Cranston’s free-kick struck the post but Morecambe had better luck when they equalised.

This time, Kevin Ellison held off the attention of Michael Nottingham and found the net via a deflection off Heneghan.

Nottingham and Callum Guy were denied by the woodwork but the former restored Blackpool’s lead from Liam Feeney’s cross.

Ryan Hardie made it 3-1 after the break before two late goals wrapped up victory.

Sullay Kaikai scored after Mark Halstead had kept out Nathan Shaw’s effort before Joe Nuttall’s 30-yarder went through the keeper’s hands.

The first league game of the month came four days later with an incident-packed 2-2 draw against Salford City at the Globe Arena.

Danny Lloyd fired the visitors into a 15th-minute lead but then missed a penalty following a handball.

Trailing at half-time, Morecambe began the second half strongly and equalised when a patient passing move ended with Shaun Miller netting from Aaron Wildig’s pass.

Two minutes later, they were ahead when Lewis Alessandra netted at the second attempt for his fifth goal of the season.

Having got in front, the Shrimps gifted their opponents an equaliser midway through the half when keeper Barry Roche misjudged Lloyd’s free-kick and the ball went through his hands.

Salford were awarded another penalty with time running out when Lloyd was judged to have been fouled by Adam Buxton.

On this occasion, Roche went from zero to hero by keeping out Richie Towell’s spot-kick to ensure a 2-2 draw.

A week later, however, and Jim Bentley’s players were beaten 3-0 at Scunthorpe United.

Wildig and Andrew Tutte saw efforts saved by home keeper Rory Watson before three goals in quarter of an hour did the damage.

Jamie Proctor opened the scoring on 25 minutes, netting after Roche had saved his initial penalty.

It was 2-0 just after the half-hour when Alex Gilliead hit the post and Kevin van Veen converted the rebound.

Matty Lund completed the scoring just before half-time when he forced the ball home after Roche had thwarted Gilliead.

Despite a much-improved second half, the Shrimps had nothing to show from it with Buxton seeing a stoppage-time penalty saved by Watson.

Next up was another home game with Walsall making the trip to the Globe Arena in search of a first victory after a winless run of nine league and cup games.

They duly achieved it, winning 1-0 thanks to Stuart Sinclair’s early goal as he scored after Roche had kept out Rory Gaffney’s original attempt.

A poor game saw chances at a premium with Roche saving Rory Holden’s effort and Liam Kinsella narrowly off target for the visitors.

At the other end, an offside flag chalked off Miller’s second-half effort but that was as close as the Shrimps came to levelling.

A trip to Oldham Athletic four days later offered little salvation as Morecambe suffered a third loss in a week.

They went down 3-1 against a Latics side who had just appointed Dino Maamria as manager.

It was a former Shrimp who helped to inflict defeat on his previous employers as Zak Mills created Oldham’s first two goals, scored by Mohammed Maouche and Desire Segbe Azankpo.

Miller gave hope of a possible comeback by halving the deficit late on, only for Jonny Smith to wrap up victory.

Seven days later and it seemed as if the Shrimps would end September with four straight losses when they trailed Northampton Town 2-0 at half-time.

Jordan Turnbull scored both goals, heading home from Nicky Adams’ corner before seeing a long-range effort deflected beyond Roche.

It was almost 3-0 with half-time looming but Andy Williams’ looping header hit the top of the bar.

The woodwork came to Morecambe’s aid again, this time thwarting Adams, before the Shrimps gave themselves a lifeline.

With 18 minutes remaining, Buxton fired home from 25 yards before they got on level terms in added time when Ellison scored from close range after a goalmouth scramble.

Both sides could have snatched a winner during 10 minutes of injury time but Northampton came closest as they hit the woodwork for a third time through Sam Hoskins, but it ended with honours even at 2-2.

Only their second point from a possible 15 on offer during the month, it meant the Shrimps ended September third-bottom of the table with only Scunthorpe United and Stevenage beneath them.

Next week: A second league win of the season arrives in October but there are four losses and the end of an era for all concerned at the Globe Arena....