Match report: Scunthorpe 1 Morecambe 1

A last-gasp goal from Aaron Wildig earned Morecambe a deserved point against improving Scunthorpe.
Aaron Wildig got the Shrimps’ late equaliser (photo: Getty Images)Aaron Wildig got the Shrimps’ late equaliser (photo: Getty Images)
Aaron Wildig got the Shrimps’ late equaliser (photo: Getty Images)

Wildig scored his fourth goal of the season to extend the Shrimps’ unbeaten run to six matches as they came from behind to take a point.

Boss Derek Adams made eight changes to the side that beat Manchester United in midweek, and started with the same XI that drew against Stevenage a week before, for a game against a side that had won its last two games after a poor start to the season.

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The first half was largely a non-event as neither side produced a shot on target in a forgettable 45 minutes.

Scunthorpe had plenty of the ball but it was the Shrimps who looked the more threatening despite only creating two half-chances.

The first came on 19 minutes when a neat move down the left ended with Stephen Hendrie’s cross being flicked wide of the right-hand post by Jordan Slew.

Six minutes later Yann Songo’o gave home keeper Mark Howard something to think about with a long-range shot that landed on the roof of the net. Scunthorpe, who lost striker Kevin van Even to an early injury, produced only one attack of any note when centre-forward Ryan Loft saw a header well cleared by Song’o as the ball bounced dangerously around the box.

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The second half was following a similar storyline until the introduction of substitute Cole Stockton livened things up.

Within moments of coming on the striker turned superbly on the edge of the area and fired a well-struck shot into the side netting with Howard beaten.

Then Wildig curled an effort wide from the edge of the box from Adam Phillips’ pull-back.

As the Shrimps upped the pace Scunthorpe followed suit and winger Abo Eisa began to look lively down the left-hand side.

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After one of Eisa’s runs ended with a corner, The Iron opened the scoring six minutes from time.

Alex Gillead swung over a set-piece that saw Alfie Beestin’s effort blocked on the line by Song’o, only for Emmanuelle Onariase to latch on to the loose ball and score from close range.

The Shrimps, who used all their newly allotted five substitutes, showed spirit to raise the game and dominate the final moments.

Phillips saw a shot blocked by Devarn Green and forced a save from Howard’s leg before a deserved equaliser came in injury time.

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Kelvin Mellor delivered a pinpoint cross into the area and although Wildig’s header was superbly saved by Howard, he was able to slam home the rebound to maintain the Shrimps’ good away form this year and collect another decent point on their travels.

Scunthorpe: Howard, Rowe, McGahey, Onariase, Brown, Gillead, Beestin, Spence (McAtee 83), Eisa (Hippolyte 83), Van Veen (Hallam 18, rep Green 68), Loft. Subs (not used): Watson, Bedeau, Olomola.

Morecambe: Turner, Mellor, Lavelle, Knight-Percival (Davis 86), Hendrie (Cooney 83), Songo’o (Price 83), Diagouraga (Stockton 57), Phillips, Wildig, Mendes-Gomes (O’Sullivan 85), Slew. Subs (not used): Halstead, Pringle