Morecambe advanced to the FA Cup third qualifying round with a 2-0 victory over Southport at Halo Aerospace Stadium on Saturday. Paul Lewis and Isaac Buckley-Ricketts got the goals in a match manager Adam Lakeland described as a hard-fought, scrappy affair.

Adam Lakeland said the performance, while not pretty, was a sign of progress. "Cup football is all about getting the result you want and we managed to win today, which is what it was all about," the manager told reporters. He added that the nature of the win held particular value. "While I didn’t enjoy much of the game, I think it was an important win for us because we found a way to win a scrappy match and (it) shows we are going in the right direction."

The result avenged a 2-1 league defeat to the same opponents just 11 days earlier. Lakeland, who had watched several of Southport's games, believed those two recent encounters showed the best version of the National League North side. Morecambe had to work hard to gain and maintain their lead, facing pressure after going ahead in the cup tie. The manager noted that Southport did not use the multi-ball system, which contributed to a stop-start rhythm.

The win extends Morecambe's current form to four victories in their last five matches across all competitions. They now sit 10th in the National League North table with 13 points from nine games. Their next challenge is a league trip to face second-placed Oxford City on Saturday, 26 September.

This story first appeared at Lancaster Guardian

Morecambe's official match report confirmed goalkeeper Myles Boney was named man of the match for his performance in the 2-0 FA Cup win over Southport. The club stated Boney made several key saves to preserve the lead, including denying Adam Moseley in the second half. The Shrimps, who sit 10th in the National League North with 13 points, have now won four of their last five matches.

Manager Adam Lakeland made two changes to his starting line-up for the FA Cup tie. The club confirmed Cameron Coxe and Ronnie Blois were recalled, with Joe Garner dropping to the bench and Will Smith rested. Morecambe, who are 10th in the National League North with 13 points, sealed their 2-0 win with Paul Lewis's 55th-minute header and Isaac Buckley-Ricketts's stoppage-time finish.

The club confirmed an attendance of 2,047 at the Halo Aerospace Stadium for Saturday's FA Cup tie. The match report detailed key saves from goalkeeper Myles Boney, who denied Dylan Dwyer before half-time and Adam Moseley after the break.