Hartlepool 3-2 Morecambe

Paul Mullin scores late on for Morecambe.

Morecambe suffered a defeat at fellow strugglers Hartlepool to end 2016 in the worst possible way.

Jim Bentley’s side produced a poor first half performance conceding three goals against a struggling side who had failed to score in their previous five games and were made to pay despite a much better second half showing.  Former Shrimps player Padraig Amond gave the home side the lead with a fine goal on 10 minutes.  Amond collected the ball on the edge of the Morecambe box and produced a fine turn and volley that looped over Barry Roche and into the top corner.  Just three minutes later the Shrimps conceded a second after a controversial penalty.  Ryan Edwards seemed to be shoved in the back as a cross came into the area and he was adjudged to have handled the ball with Billy Paynter converting the penalty.  Hartlepool made it 3-0 with a well worked goal with Nicky Featherstone beating Roche with a neat finish.  The Shrimps did find the target early in the second half through an Andy Fleming volley.  The only chance of note came when Fleming headed a cross over from six yards out before the Shrimps scored a second three minutes into stoppage time when Paul Mullin scored from close range but it was too little too late for Bentley’s boys.  