Middlesbrough 0-3 Morecambe Ladies

Hannah Paling on the end of yet another hefty challenge.

Rebecca Lillystone in the Boro nets had to be out sharpish to beat Lupton to the ball in the opening moments before Dan Scarr brought a blocked save from Emma Reader in goal for Morecambe.

Boro’s Leanne Anderson then headed a looping ball for Clare Helm to chase but Reader had it covered and when Scarr beat the offside her finish was weak.

Sam McGovern couldn’t get onto a ball over Norris’ head, Reader was out to avert the danger.

Becky Whittingham lifted the spirits when she played a one-two with Hannah Paling and the ball was set up nicely, her shot looked like it was going in but fell just wide of the post.

From the goal kick, Georgia Lupton latched on to a poor clearance and her shot from outside the area beat the keeper to make it 0-1.

Morecambe settled down and started to come forward more, Jade Thornhill and Sophie Fish found space down the left and Callis and Fisher on the right.

Boro’s best chance came with a rare quick ball from the back to Sammie Leigh who laid it off to the left wing and her cross found Shannon Berwick, who after a one-two with Scarr found herself on the penalty spot and let fly only for Reader to push the ball over the bar.

Just before half time Scarr played a defence-splitting ball through for Jasmine Pearson to run onto, Reader didn’t collect, pushing the ball away from goal, Pearson picked it up and Morecambe have Beth Fisher to thank for booting it out off the goal line.

The game continued into the second half with no real flow. Scarr had a shot from a Boro corner but hit it without conviction.

Leigh then set Boro forward and with Morecambe on their heels Berwick set up McGovern who fired straight at Reader.

Substitute Megan Doherty was immediately involved, she was found by Whittingham at the far post and although she was unable to control the ball she returned it into the goal mouth but Morecambe failed to take advantage.

As in the first half, Boro seemed to do better with quick movement and Dan Skarr raced through with Norris shadowing and brought out a great save from Reader at the near post.

With seven minutes left a through ball found Megan Doherty running in and she slipped it past the advancing Boro keeper Lillystone into the empty net.

With Boro bemoaning a free-kick on the half-way line Jo Norris planted the kick forward over the defence and Hannah Paling deftly lifted the ball over Lillystone and the momentum of the ball saw it into the net to make it  0-3.