Back in time: Morecambe provide the perfect pick-me-up for absent manager with Luton Town win

This week, we’re heading back to December 2014 when the Shrimps saw off Luton Town 3-0.

This was how ADAM LORD described the action that afternoon...

It felt like it had been a while but it ended up being more than worth the wait.

The first home game in a month with the Shrimps having been without a match seven days earlier all meant Morecambe fans were in need of their football fix.

And after all the build up to their Eric Morecambe Trophy clash with second at the start of play Luton the hosts delivered, even if they had to do it without their manager.

Boss Jim Bentley was absent from the Globe Arena ill but will have been cheered when he was told of a day where everything went right for the Shrimps.

First Kevin Ellison gave them an early lead before visiting skipper Steve McNulty saw red for two yellow cards, the second coming just 92 seconds after the first shortly before the half-hour.

Home captain Mark Hughes had a better day, ensuring the picture was rosy at the break with a headed goal on the stroke of half-time.

The second period took some time to get going but as it progressed it looked like Morecambe would score at will.

Unfortunately for the baying home crowd they didn’t but Padraig Amond did get his second in two games nine minutes from time to make it three goals and three League Two points.

A scrappy opening gave no indication of what was to come with Ellison’s goal after 17 minutes awakening a poor game.

Jamie Devitt’s deep free-kick was headed back into the mix by Alex Kenyon with Ellison pouncing on the loose ball to hammer home his eighth goal of the season from 10 yards.

The Shrimps also soon had a man advantage.

First McNulty hacked down Ellison before tripping Mullin on 28 minutes as he was turned by the Shrimps front man.

Referee Andy D’Urso had no hesitation in showing a second yellow card as John Still saw his side’s task get a whole lot harder.

Luton were ragged as the Shrimps looked to press home their advantage.

Kenyon’s header from a Devitt corner was hacked off the line by Luke Wilkinson five minutes before the interval but the Shrimps didn’t have to wait much longer for a second.

After forcing a series of corners Shaun Beeley chipped to the back post for Hughes to head past Mark Tyler.

Luton had to regroup and were quickest out of the blocks in the second half, Scott Davies beating Mark Cullen’s effort round the post.

But it was as good as things got for the visitors as Morecambe worked out how to use their numerical advantage.

The hosts had a series of half chances before Ellison forced Tyler into a save at full stretch on 73 minutes with Laurence Wilson driving over the follow-up.

Tyler then saved well low to his left from Ellison 10 minutes from time before Amond made sure of the points 60 seconds later.

Ryan Edwards rose highest to head down Devitt’s corner with Amond turning and firing home from close range.

The Shrimps could have had more but had done more than enough to record back-to-back home wins and build momentum heading into the busy Christmas period.