Morecambe snatch all three points after dramatic late winner over Wealdstone

Morecambe FC snatched all three points thanks to a late winner that gave them a 4-3 victory over Wealdstone in the National League at the Mazuma.

Click here to listen to reaction to the win from Morecambe manager Ashvir Johal and scorer Elijah Dixon-Bonner

Morecambe found themselves three goals up just before half time, before a second half comeback from the visitors levelled the game, ahead of Ash Johal’s men finding a late winner.

The Shrimps handed debuts to Arsenal loan signing Maldini Kacurri in defence and QPR loanee Elijah Dixon-Bonner in midfield, as well as a debut for Lewis Payne at right back.

It was the perfect start to proceedings for the Shrimps as Morecambe went ahead in just the fifth minute of the game.

A fine move saw Ben Tollitt square the ball to Jack Nolan who curled the ball left footed first time into the top corner, to score on his home debut.

Superb link up play between Nolan and Jake Cain resulted in the midfielder forcing Dante Baptiste into a save, before later another piece of superb play saw Nolan denied again at the far post.

Morecambe doubled their lead seven minutes before the interval, as more breathtaking play involving Azeez and Cain saw Payne pull the ball back for Elijah Dixon-Bonner who made no mistake in finding the back of the net on his debut.

The Shrimps struck again a few minutes later, as Kacurri fed Cain down the right and his ball across was slammed home first time by Admiral Muskwe from 15 yards.

Just before the end of the half, Wealdstone managed to pull one back through Max Kretzschmar, who capitalised on a slip at the back by goalkeeper Archie Mair to chip into an empty net.

In the second half, Morecambe came close to extending their lead once again through Ben Tollitt who glided past his man before hitting an effort goalward but it was parried over by Baptiste.

Nolan then hit the post with a cross shot, while Muskwe squandered two good chances.

With 15 minutes left to play, Wealdstone managed to get another one back, as Jack Cook’s drive from distance was deflected into the net off Obiero.

With ten minutes remaining, Alfie Massey found an equaliser for the visitors, as his low drive from the edge of the arrow found the corner of the net.

The Shrimps won the game in dramatic fashion inside the last five minutes. Nolan won the ball inside the Stones’ half, and slipped in George Thomas in the right hand side of the area. The debutant pulled the ball back for fellow substitute Emerson Sutton, on loan from QPR, to sweep home from six yards.

Morecambe entertain Halifax in the National League on Wednesday, kick off at 7:45.

Morecambe FC: Mair, Payne, Kacurri, Azeez, Cain (Raikhy, 88') Muskwe (Panayiotou, 81') Tollitt (Sutton, 68'), Sangare, Songo'o (C), Dixon-Bonner (Thomas, 81'), Nolan

Subs not used: Ascroft, Conte, Sesay

Goals: Nolan (5'), Dixon-Bonner (38'), Muskwe (44'), Sutton (86’)                            

Bookings: Tollitt, Songo'o

Wealdstone FC: Baptiste, Cook (C) (Tiensia, 76'), Mussa (Georgiou, 46'), Woodman, Boldewijn, Kretzschmar (Hutchinson, 61'), Hassan (Diarra, 90+5'), Chinedu, Tshikuna, Massey, Adarkwa (Obiero, 61')

Subs not used: Covolan, Day

Goals: Kretzschmar (45'), Cook (74'), Massey (80')

Bookings: Kretzschmar 

Attendance: 2,556