2001-02 » Match Report: Yeovil 1-1 Morecambe

Att: 2,404

Line up : (4-4-2)

		Jon Sheffield
Adam Lockwood	Tom White		Colin Pluck	Anthony Tonkin
Nick Crittenden	Darren Way		Lee Johnson	Andy Turner
	Carl Alford		Scott Ramsay

Subs used: . Andy Lindegaard (73, for Turner), Chris Giles (77, for Alford)

Morecambe:
1. Craig Mawson 2. Andy Fensome 3. John Hardiker 4. Paul McGuire 5. Dave McKearney 6. Stewart Drummond 7. Adriano Rigogliosa 8. Andy Gouck 9. Robbie Talbot 10. Garry Thompson 11. Phil Eastwood
Subs used: John Norman (84, for Thompson), Alex Porter (71, for Eastwood)

Scorers: Talbot (53, 0-1), Crittenden (89, 1-1)

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This report courtesy of Fe7:

Yeovil left it late to grab an equaliser in what was a mainly uninspiring affair. Nick Crittendens 88th minute equaliser was one of few highlights to give the Yeovil faithful their money’s worth. A Morecambe corner in the opening minutes of the second half found Robbie Talbot unmarked at the near post and a relatively simple, powerful header opened the scoring for them. Morecambe were always happy to sit on that lead and Yeovil’s task appeared to be increasingly impossible as they continually failed to make any impact on a well-organised, effective Morecambe defence. With just two minutes of normal play left, and the Yeovil faithful drifting home Crittenden produced a well placed, dipping shot as Morecambe, again, cleared a Yeovil corner.

The first half was memorable, only for the five yellow cards awarded to the Morecambe players.

Morecambe were only one place above Yeovil as both teams entered this game. Morecambe had enjoyed a run of five straight wins until they were beaten during the week by Leigh R.M.I. Morecambe would be keen to make amends for that result, particularly as it was reported they had conceded three goals on the break.

Back to the game.

Yeovil were forced to start with the defence that finished the midweek match at Barnet, Skiverton being replaced by Pluck, Morecambe made three changes from their previous match.

Morecambe started the brighter of the two sides with a shot drifting past Sheffield’s right hand post after three minutes and winning their first corner after five. Yeovil, with the gusty wind behind their backs kept to the long ball tactics that had recently served them well recently.

The first half stuttered along with relatively few positive moments by either side. Yeovil’s attacks were somewhat impotent, Ramsay’s shot making Mawson, Morecambes keeper, back pedal and tip over, Way’s shot drifted past the post, Ramsay and Turner working well down left down on a few occasions. In general, Yeovil continually made life difficult for Alford and Ramsay by providing service of poor quality. Dead ball play failed to produce any positive outcomes.

Morecambe were equally uninspiring but came closest when Phil Eastwood got in behind the Yeovil defence to head at Sheffield’s goal, Sheffield collected at the second attempt. Minutes later an Andy Gouck shot flashed over the Yeovil bar.

In general, both defences looked relatively comfortable and in control, thus resulting in an uneventful first half.

Half Time: Yeovil 0 Morecambe 0.

The second half started slightly brighter from Yeovil’s perspective, Johnson produced a good corner, the Morecambe clearance fell to Way whose shot failed to penetrate a crowded penalty area. Strong appeals for a Yeovil penalty followed a Turner header but the referee waved play on.

On 53 minutes a good left wing corner by Morecambe was drilled towards the near post, Robbie TALBOT met the ball powerfully with his head and it flew into the Yeovil goal to make the score: Yeovil 0 Morecambe 1.

Yeovil responded positively and held the majority of possession for the next tem minutes with numerous attacks, but failed to threaten Mawson’s goal, Mawson and his defence continued to look solid. Morecambe weathered the storm and crept back into the match. Another of Gouck’s rockets flew over Sheffield’s cross bar.

Yeovil replaced Turner with Lindegaard who took up the right wing position, Crittenden moving over to the left. With thirteen minutes left Giles replaced Alford.

Yeovil, since conceding a goal, had worked hard and were now playing higher in Morecambe’s half, any attacks that were cleared by the Morecambe defence often fell to White or Lockwood who had plenty of time to rebuild another attack. However, the game was ticking away and Yeovil appeared to be running out of ideas.

Yeovil were by now playing a 3-3-4 at times with Lindegaard and Crittenden playing wide strikers. Having introduced Lindegaard, whose crosses are his most dangerous weapon, Yeovil continued to rely on the long ball into the Morecambe box. Having a two wide men would hopefully create space in the box. However, Lindegaard could have utilised that space better when, on 81 minutes, a clearance fell to him but his rushed shot went high and wide.

However, it was Lindegaard’s presence wide on the right wing that led to Yeovil’s equaliser. Collecting the ball down by the right corner flag, he made just enough space for himself to cross towards the near post. His cross was headed away by the right back for a corner. Johnson’s corner was again cleared but fell for Nick CRITTENDEN some ten yards outside the Morecambe box. The ball fell awkwardly in front of him. He controlled the rising ball with his chest, he took an age. If he had taken the shot too early the ball would have cleared the Westland Terrace, but, with enough time he was calm and waited patiently. At the right time he smacked the falling ball with his right boot, applying sufficient top-spin to allow the ball to loop over the advancing Morecambe defence but dropping on its target, the Morecambe goal. Mawson was beaten the moment it left Crittendens boot, it dropped over Mawson’s diving right hand as he flung himself towards his right hand post. But in vain. It was Yeovil 1 Morecambe 1. The Yeovil faithful returned and breathed an ecstatic sigh of relief.

The four minutes of extra time passed with exciting Yeovil pressure, and for the first time in the game Yeovil could argue they were the better, more positive side. But, alas four minutes of pressure was not enough to seal a win.

Final score Yeovil 1 Morecambe 1.

In the end a draw was probably a fair result. Yeovil were, in general, poor and lacking the ability to break down a stubborn Morecambe defence. Again, MacIndoe’s energy was missed. Beyond that Yeovil are one or two players short of being a good team. The addition of Lockwood has been a major step towards that achievement,. Today he turned in another steady, positive performance. The defence across ninety minutes looked solid. Surely, we cannot afford to let him go.