Morecambe slip to ninth straight away defeat to fall six points from League Two safety

Morecambe are six points from safety with five to play, after a ninth straight away defeat in League Two at Grimsby.

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The hosts could have taken the lead within the first five minutes, as striker Danny Rose’s effort at the back post came back off the crossbar following  a long throw into the box.

There were few chances for either team after that until the Mariners opened the scoring on 24 minutes.

Denver Hume went on a mazy run which resulted in a corner, which was swung in from the left, where Kieran Green met it with a glancing header into the far corner from six yards.

Morecambe found themselves back on level terms just six minutes later with a fine equaliser. Callum Jones slipped in Andy Dallas on the edge of the area, and he curled a right footed effort past Jordan Wright and into the top corner.

But just after half time, Town restored their lead. The ball was worked well to Luca Barrington on the edge of the area, who unleashed a powerful strike into the top corner of Harry Burgoyne’s goal. 

Morecambe struggled to create a clear goalscoring opportunity as the half wore on, while at the other end Rose had the ball in the Morecambe net on 71 minutes, but the referee pulled play back for an offside in the build-up.

Then, Burgoyne was called upon with a diving save low down to his left to deny Burns, before Grimsby sealed a deserved three points with 10 minutes to play. A low cross from the right was flicked on into the path of Green who side footed home from close range.

An excellent save from Burgoyne at point-blank range on 89 minutes denied Town a fourth through Harvey Rodgers before, at the other end, Yann Songo'o got on the end of Ben Tollitt's corner, but couldn't keep his header down.

Grimsby Town: Wright, Green (Davies, 84'), Rodgers, Barrington (Warren, 90+1'), McJannet, Burns (Svanthorsson, 74'), Turi (McEachran, HT), Tharme, Khouri, Rose ©, Hume.

Subs not used: Eastwood, Thompson, Vernam.

Goals: Green (24', 80'), (Barrington, 48').

Bookings: Turi, Hume, Tharme.

Morecambe: Burgoyne, A Lewis, White (Tollitt, 63'), Stott © (Songo'o, 78'), Hope (Dackers, 63'), Angol, Williams, Dallas (Cooke, 79'), P Lewis, Tutonda (Taylor, 71'), Jones.

Subs not used: Schofield, Slew.

Goals: Dallas (30').

Bookings: P Lewis, Dallas, Tutonda, Jones.

Attendance: 5,807 (128 away).