Morecambe 4 Eastleigh 0: Shrimps gain their first win of the calendar year
Morecambe picked up their first win under returning boss Jim Bentley with a convincing victory over Eastleigh at the Mazuma Mobile Stadium.
The Shrimps produced their best performance for some time on Saturday to pick up a first win since December ahead of Wednesday’s critical game at Gateshead.
Having labelled their 5-1 defeat at Southend United seven days earlier as a ‘horror show’, Bentley had demanded a response.
He certainly got it with Miguel Azeez, Jack Nolan, Lewis Payne and Chris Popov all scoring, as well as a first clean sheet in 11 games.
The Shrimps dominated from the start and their pressure paid off with a moment of quality from Azeez in the 13th minute.
After winning the ball, he saw Eastleigh keeper Nick Townsend well off his line and let fly with a 40-yard effort that flew into the top corner.
Morecambe continued to threaten with the revitalised Paul Lewis seeing a shot blocked and Popov heading Payne’s cross wide from six yards.
Nolan wasted a golden chance just before the break, dragging a shot wide when he was put through on goal with only Townsend to beat.
Eastleigh had a brief spell on top at the start of the second half but, from there, Morecambe took control as two goals in two minutes just before the hour sealed the contest.
Nolan made up for his earlier miss, scoring after Lewis had headed Gwion Edwards’ cross against the post, before Payne made it 3-0 moments later with a lovely finish from Popov’s perfectly-timed lay-off.
James Waite twice tested Jamal Blackman from distance before the Shrimps added a fourth 11 minutes from time, when Payne played in Popov who beat Townsend with a neat finish.
The Shrimps’ desire to keep a rare clean sheet was there for all to see as Barney Stone’s effort was cleared off the line at full stretch by Harlee Dean in a moment that typified their spirit.
Morecambe: Blackman, Payne, Dean, Edwards (Williams 71), Azzez (Thomas 71), Jameson, Lewis, Songo’o (Sangare 83), Akindileni, Nolan (Tollitt 83), Popov (Nuttall 90). Subs not used: Boney, Sesay.
Eastleigh: Townsend, Humphries, Eweka, Evans, Tabor (Stone 71), Blair, Waite, Pearson (Underhill 71), Cousins (Giles 73) Harris, Maher (Pierre 82). Subs not used: Vokins, Lundstram, Waruih.
Referee: Craig Hicks.
Attendance: 2,227.