Morecambe fall 2-1 to Radcliffe in quest for first…

Morecambe were beaten 2-1 by Radcliffe at their home ground, with Joe Garner scoring the Shrimps’ lone goal in the 81st minute. Radcliffe’s Rio Clegg and Joe Pritchard opened and extended the lead before Morecambe’s late effort fell short.

Morecambe fell 2-1 to Radcliffe on Saturday, with Joe Garner scoring the Shrimps’ only goal in the 81st minute. Radcliffe’s Rio Clegg and Joe Pritchard opened and extended the lead before Morecambe’s late effort fell short.

Early setbacks

The match began with Morecambe’s striker Cameron Coxe being stretchered off after a collision that mirrored the injury he suffered a week earlier against Harborough. The first half saw little quality from either side, with Radcliffe’s Rio Clegg firing a shot that Joe Young tipped over the bar.

Radcliffe takes the lead

In the second half, Ben Williams’ pass to Joe Young was intercepted by Clegg, who slipped the ball over the line to give Radcliffe a 1-0 advantage. Morecambe’s first shot came at the hour mark when Joe Garner headed a cross from Elliot Newby, but the keeper held on.

Radcliffe doubles

Just minutes later, Radcliffe’s Jordan Hulme set up Joe Pritchard for a clinical finish. Pritchard turned inside and rifled the ball into the roof of the net, making it 2-0.

Morecambe’s late push

With the Shrimps pushing for an equaliser, Joe Garner brought the ball down on his chest, slipped past a defender, and fired into the bottom corner at 81 minutes. The effort was a grandstand finish, but Morecambe ran out of time.

Match details

Full-time score: Radcliffe 2 - 1 Morecambe Attendance: 1,279

Morecambe line-up

Young, Coxe (Baines 11'), Williams, Hogan, Smith (C), Cain, Garner, Daly, Newby, Buckley-Ricketts, Lewis. Subs not used: Boney, Collis, Dobson, Fairclough, Goodyear. Bookings: Hogan 37', Lewis 42', Williams 45+4', Collis 71'.

Radcliffe line-up

Donaghy, McFadzean, Davies, Maynard (C), Jackson, Afuye, Clegg, McCarthy (Hulme 45'), Raglan, Pritchard (James 73'). Subs not used: Smith, Taylor, Roscoe, Oyibo, O'Grady. Bookings: McFadzean 45+2', Maynard 71', Rio Clegg 75'.