Morecambe begin life in National League North with Spennymoor draw

Morecambe began their National League North campaign with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Spennymoor Town at the Halo Aerospace Stadium.

Matty Daly’s second-half penalty cancelled out an early opener from the visitors, as Adam Lakeland’s side pushed for a winner late on but were ultimately forced to settle for a point on the opening day.

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In the first half Spennymoor looked threatening from the off and took the lead in the 8th minute. Richie Bennett, a former shrimp himself, picked up the second ball from a corner and fired at goal. Liam Hogan got his head to it but diverted it into the top corner.

Morecambe struggled to create any chances early on, as Spennymoor were solid and look controlled off the ball. They should have doubled their lead in the 39th minute after a Lewis Baines slip allowed Robert Ramshaw to dive into the box and cross for Junior Mondal, but the ball was inches away from his boot.

Morecambe’s only effort on goal came in the third minute of stoppage time, when Cameron Coxe got his head on an Elliot Newby cross, but the ball hit Paul Lewis and went over the bar.

The second half started much better for Morecambe, and it didn’t take them long to create their first chance of the half. Coxe controlled a lovely cross from Williams, but his shot was well saved by Zac Hadi.

A minute later and Morecambe were awarded a penalty after Isaac Buckley-Ricketts danced past his marker and was brought down. Maty Daly converted the penalty to score the first goal of Morecambe’s National League North campaign.

Buckley-Ricketts then went close himself in the 53rd minute but couldn’t direct Daly’s cross into the goal. They both then linked up again in the 74th minute, with some tidy one touch play on the edge of the box, but Daly fired over.

Buckley-Ricketts was nearly gifted the chance to give Morecambe the lead in the 81st minute after a poor back pass, but Hadi did well to collect the ball under pressure.

It was then Spennymoor’s turn to try and break the deadlock, George Cantrill had a free header from a corner, but he put his effort inches past the post.

Morecambe came very close to winning the game late on, Newby’s shot was heading towards the far corner, but Cantrill cleared the ball off the line and the game finished 1-1.

Morecambe: Young, Coxe, Williams (Garner 83'), Hogan, Smith (C), Baines, Daly, Newby, Buckley-Ricketts Blois (90+3'), Lewis, Curley.

Subs Not Used: Boney, Collis, Cain, Fairclough.

Goals: Daly 49'.

Bookings: Curley.

Spennymoor Town: Hadi, Jones, Cantrill (Beals, 90+4), Whelan, Jenkins, Ramshaw, Mondal (Young 72'), Darcy, Pollock, Salkeld, Bennett.

Subs Not Used: James, Dawson, Miller, Dolan, Raine.

Goals: Bennett 09'.

Bookings: Cantrill.

Attendance: 2,579 (189 away)