Morecambe end pre-season campaign with narrow Barrow defeat

A late penalty saw Morecambe slip to a 1-0 defeat against National League side Barrow in the final pre-season friendly of the summer for the Shrimps at the Halo Aerospace Stadium.

Manager Adam Lakeland opted to start the game with three central defenders, and was without the services of senior players Joe Garner and Taelor O’Kane.

The contest was slow to get going in the first half, and it wasn’t until the 31st minute that the games first chance came, when Isaac Buckely-Ricketts was played in by Maty Daly. He drove towards the goal but couldn’t make his mind up on whether to pass or shoot. In the end the keeper narrowed the angle, and his shot was easily tipped round the post.

Barrow’s first effort came from striker Alex Reid, when he was played in on goal but shot straight at Joe Young. Cameron Coxe came close then for Morecambe, when his shot was deflected and need saving from Ben Winterbottom in the Barrow goal.  

Morecambe manager Adam Lakeland reflects on a 1-0 defeat Barrow in the final pre-season outing of the summer for the Shrimps.#UTS 🦐 | #MORvBAR https://t.co/EMRmVjBpqw

— Dave Salmon (@dpsalmon) August 1, 2026

The second half provided much more action. Morecambe were first to try and find and opening, when Will Smith lifted the ball into the box, only for Elliot Newby to head just wide of the post.

In the 55th minute Olly Crankshaw drove into the box, cut inside onto his right foot but his effort was deflected for a corner. He had another fierce effort on goal a couple of minutes later, but Liam Hogan threw his body in the way to keep the scores at 0-0.  

Danny Rose nearly scored from as a corner came into the Morecambe box, but Young kept the ball out from point blank range. Then in the 84th minute, the games key moment occurred. Liam Baines was adjudged to have committed a foul in the box, and Crankshaw duly converted the spot kick.

Morecambe return to the Halo Aerospace next Saturday, August 8, for their first National League North game of the season against Spennymoor Town, kick off at 3pm.

Morecambe: Young, Coxe, Williams (Fairclough 82'), Hogan, Smith (C) (Collis 75'), Baines, Leigh (Trialist A 75'), Daly (Trialist B, 82'), Newby, Buckley-Ricketts (Blois 75'), Lewis.

Subs Not Used: Boney, Newall, Goodyear.

Barrow AFC: Winterbottom, Oakley, Williams, Crankshaw, Reid (Smith 63'), Walker (Cameron 63'), Amos (Whitfield 78'), Kalambayi, Harper (Jackson 63') Marriot (Rose 72'), Benjamin.

Goals: Crankshaw 84'

Subs Not Used: Barrett, Raglan, Digie, Kouyate, Earing.

Attendance: 1444 (330 away)