Newport County 2 Morecambe 1: Late penalty proves costly for Shrimps

Morecambe had looked set to share the spoils with the impressive Exiles until they were undone seven minutes from time when Stephen Hendrie bundled over Josh Sheehan in the box for a clear penalty.

Experienced Newport skipper Dolan kept his cool from 12 yards to squeeze the ball past Mark Halstead to deny the Shrimps a point they deserved after restricting the league’s top side to few chances.

Shrimps’ boss Derek Adams made two changes to the side that beat Barrow in midweek, with Cole Stockton ruled out after picking up an injury and John O’Sullivan dropping to the bench.

Alex Kenyon was recalled to the midfield and Jordan Slew given the nod to take Stockton’s role up front.

Morecambe started the game well and could have taken the lead on nine minutes when Adam Phillips’ left-wing corner found Nathaniel Knight-Percival in the box but he could only direct his header straight at home keeper Nik Townsend.

Despite the promising start, the Shrimps went a goal down three minutes later as their ex-striker Padraig Amond once again scored against his former employers.

Liam Shepherd crossed to the far past for Scott Twine, whose header back across goal was met by Amond who slid in sharply at the far post to bundle the ball over the line.

Morecambe almost provided a swift response when Slew created a chance for himself with a great piece of control before firing well wide of the target when he should have done better.

The Shrimps continued to press and levelled on 32 minutes through Carlos Mendes-Gomes.

Phillips once again provided the assist as he spotted the run of the midfielder ,who changed his feet superbly to score at the second attempt after Townsend had saved his original effort.

The second half produced few chances.

Newport midfielder Twine saw a shot parried by Halstead, then Shepherd fired into the side netting before Morecambe began to threaten themselves.

Newport defender Micky Demetriou was forced to make a vital late clearance to deny Mendes-Gomes a clear run on goal before Phillips forced Townsend into a flying save with a great shot on the turn.

Phillips then created another good chance for Slew but he diverted an excellent right-wing cross wide of the target.

Adams’ side looked all set for a decent point against the in-form Exiles – who brought on another former Shrimps man Kevin Ellison late in the game – until Hendrie’s foul on Wales international Sheehan. That earned him a second yellow card, and gave the home side the chance to take the three points, leaving the Shrimps once again wondering what might have been.

Newport: Townsend, Haynes (Willmott 61), Demetriou, Dolan, Cooper, Shephard, Bennett (Ellison 74), Sheehan, Twine, Amond (David Longe-King 89), Abrahams (repProctor 61). Subs (not used): King, Devitt, Lewis.

Morecambe: Halstead, Mellor, Lavelle, Davis, Knight-Percival (Leitch-Smith 87), Hendrie, Kenyon, Songo’o. Mendes-Gomes, Slew (McAlinden 87), Philips (Cooney 83). Subs (not used): Turner, Diagouraga, Pringle, O’Sullivan.

Referee: S Purkiss.