Morecambe denied FA Cup qualification after last gasp Chester equaliser

Morecambe were held to draw by Chester after a stoppage time goal forced a replay in their FA Cup qualifying clash at the Mazuma.

Click here to listen to the post match reaction of manager Ash Johal, and winger Gwion Edwards:

The Shrimps made four changes to the starting line up from the side that lost at Scunthorpe in the National League in midweek, including midfielder Arjan Raihky being handed his first start, and goalkeeper Jamal Blackman making his debut after joining the club earlier in the week.

After a patient start for both teams, Morecambe opened the scoring in style in the 21st minute.

George Thomas slipped in Gwion Edwards on the left flank, and cut curled a right footed effort into the far corner.

Moments later, Edwards was close to replicating his first goal cutting inside again before releasing an effort but he couldn't quite get the lift required to beat George Murray-Jones.

Jack Nolan then bent an effort inches wide of the bottom corner, as Morecambe then went into the half time interval a goal to the good.

After the break, Thomas rose highest to a great cross from Edwards but his effort was just over the bar, while at the other end Blackman comfortably saved a free kick on the edge of the box.

Gwion Edwards charged down the left flank before a curling cross was tipped over for a corner. From the set piece, Jake Cain played in Nolan, who saw his powerful drive crash against the inside of the post and back out.

Minutes later, Nolan was denied by the woodwork for a second time, as his low effort beat the keeper but cam back off the opposite upright. 

Elijah Dixon-Bonner's shot was saved by Murray-Jones, before a late attack by the Seals got them an equaliser.

Deep into injury time, Morecambe didn’t fully clear a left wing cross, and Pat Jones’ low strike then wasn’t dealt with by Jamal Blackman who then palmed away the rebound from Tom Peers, but the ball fell to substitute Fin Shrimpton inside the box, who slotted home to force the tie to a replay.

The replay takes place at the Deva Stadium on Tuesday (October 14), kick off at 7:45pm.

Morecambe FC: Blackman, Payne, Kacurri, Francillette, Edwards (Sutton, 68'), Cain, Tollitt, Songo'o (C), Thomas (Dixon-Bonner, 76'), Raikhy (Azeez, 56'), Nolan (Aarons, 90+1')

Subs not used: Mair, Panayiotou, Sesay 

Goals: Edwards (21')

Bookings: Songo'o, Blackman, Azeez

Chester FC: Murray-Jones, Woodthorpe, Weeks (C), Leak, Bainbridge, Zanzala (Mottley-Henry, 63'), Murray (Shrimpton, 76'), Woods (Peers, 63'), Jones, Carson, K.Roberts 

Subs not used: Barlow, Kelly-Evans, Rawlinson, F.Roberts

Goals: Shrimpton (90+5')

Bookings: Leak, Motley-Henry, Murray

Attendance: 3066 (1307 away)