Paul Lewis scored the opening goal in Morecambe's 2-0 FA Cup second qualifying round victory over Southport last Saturday. The win at Halo Aerospace Stadium sets a positive tone as the club looks to build on its mid-table position in the National League North.
Lewis found the net for his first competitive goal of the season, having also scored in pre-season friendlies against Clitheroe and AFC Fylde. His August Bank Holiday strike at Chester marked his first of the campaign, and this latest finish was his second in nine appearances across all competitions.
Manager highlights Lewis' impact
Morecambe manager Adam Lakeland was full of praise for the 31-year-old midfielder's contribution. He highlighted Lewis's physical attributes and attacking instincts as key assets.
"He’s an athletic guy, he’s got a will to run and get in the box," Lakeland said. The manager noted his player's size, heading ability, and tendency to create mismatches in the penalty area, adding that Lewis is becoming an increasingly important figure for the team. Lakeland stated that the goal-scoring form was no surprise to the coaching staff, estimating Lewis has netted four or five times in total since pre-season began.
Building momentum
The FA Cup progress comes as Morecambe aim to string together positive results. They currently sit 11th in the National League North with 14 points from their opening 10 games. Their recent form shows three wins, one draw, and one loss from the last five outings, including a 1-1 draw with Oxford City last time out in the league.
Attention now turns to the next league assignment, an away trip to face Worksop Town on 10 October. Worksop currently occupy 18th place. Morecambe will be looking to Lewis and others to maintain their offensive output as they target a climb up the standings.
This story first appeared at lep.co.uk
