Discipline Goes Again And We Lose

Four from four to end the season is what JJ called for to end the season in style. But on a sunny afternoon at the start of the holiday weekend (not in France) there did seem to be an end-of-season feel to it all, at least for us, with the thought being that in terms of motivation Morecambe had rather more to play for. And we played into their hands. Even though we knew they score plenty, gone was the determined defending we saw against Rotherham, replaced it seemed by an attitude of ‘we’re better than them and should win’, perhaps by outscoring them. The stats show we had 23 attempts on goal, against their 11, should have had a penalty, might have come away with a point. Far more important was the fact that after another good, positive start failed to produce the opening goal we were behind in the game from the 26th minute until the last. Some may enjoy an open approach. We conceded three goals and lost, not much enjoyment there.

The team would of course again be without Inniss, as well as Lee and Fraser. But there was an unenforced changed with Burstow getting a start up front, Washington taking a breather on the bench, where he was joined by the returning Aneke (with John this time not making the squad). As against Rotherham the only outright defensive option as a replacement would be Purrington, which looked like a risk and did give the bench a decidedly attack-minded look.

We did start brightly and could easily have taken the lead in the first 15 minutes or so, when we were well on top. Good, fluid play going forward, just missing the final decisive ball or clinical finish. But to be fair Morecambe were coming more into it in the sense that when they managed to get the ball they looked dangerous. They managed to work their main guy Stockton into space to be one-on-one with Pearce and he managed to get the extra yard and put in a decent shot saved by MacGillivray, then Matthews was outmuscled in the box which led to a chance, while with echoes of earlier this season the opposition were exploiting space between Clare and Matthews on the right side and Blackett-Taylor, while tearing them apart going forward, was getting exposed defensively.

So when Morecambe took the lead on 25 minutes it was harsh on us but not entirely against the run of play. One-two down the right side and the ball played in, Stockton gets to it first and plays it in off the far post. We weren’t tight enough outside the box, didn’t track their runners, and were beaten to the ball when the cross came in. Just not good enough if you want to win games.

After that we continued to get into decent positions, helped from time to time by Morecambe’s defensive frailties, without fashioning a real clear-cut chance. And before the break we went further behind, to another poor goal. A ball into the box saw Stockton goal-side of Pearce, who ended up getting in a header blind, nodding it behind him and straight to their guy. He took a touch or two to his right, then slotting it home back across MacGillivray. Could he have come for the initial cross? Possibly. But the positioning for the cross was poor all round.

We did have our best chance just before the break as from a corner Stockley put in a strong header and when the keeper saved almost put the rebound in. But at half-time we were back chasing another game, hoping to get back into it, having conceded goals that were too easy for Morecambe to score.

In the second half we created plenty of chances, scored twice, ended the game with CBT opening them up at will, Stockley, Washington and Aneke all on the pitch, should have had a penalty when Dobson was bundled over in the box when seemingly about to double his goal tally for us (and in stoppage time he turned beautifully in the area only to blaze his effort over the bar) – and lost.

We were back the game on 52 minutes as we kept possession, CBT held off his guy and sent in a cross from the left towards the far post. Burstow got on the end of it and cleverly, instead of an outright attempt on goal, saw the space and headed the ball back for Stockley to prod into the roof of the net. Not surprisingly that got our tails back up as with plenty of time to go we looked for an equaliser, only to be undone by just one of those things six minutes later. MacGillivray has rightly received plaudits this season for his assists, not least the ball out to Washington against Burton. But he has to take the criticism this time as with the ball he looked up and flagged where he was looking to put it. Their guy anticipated the throw and moved forward to intercept, took it on and made space for a fierce shot inside the near post.

That sparked changes, with Washington replacing Gilbey, then with still over 20 minutes to go Forster-Caskey came on for Morgan (who had disappointed with his passes and crosses in the final third). Pearce picked up a yellow for the team, preventing Stockton from getting clear, then it was Aneke for Burstow. With around 12 minutes of normal time left we should have had the Dobson penalty. Then CBT beat his guy (again) on the left only for Aneke to miscontrol the cross. No matter, there was a repeat straight afterwards and this time Chucks trusted his head, powerfully heading home. Still 10 minutes to go, then five minutes of added time. And finally Dobson’s turn and shot over the bar.

Yes, on chances you can say we were unfortunate to lose. Fact is, if we’d shown the same determination we had against Rotherham we would have won. Instead we seemed to have it in our heads that Morecambe were vulnerable and all we had to do was attack them. We did, but left ourselves open in the process – and as a consequence can have no complaints about the result.