Morecambe 4 Manchester United U21s 0: Shrimps secure a comprehensive victory

First-half goals from Ryan Cooney (2) and Harry Davis put the Shrimps well in charge by half-time, while Freddie Price’s first senior goal capped a good night’s work at the Mazuma Stadium.

As promised after last Saturday’s draw with Stevenage, Morecambe boss Derek Adams gave an opportunity to those who have been on the fringe of matters recently.

In came Cooney, Davis, Price, Mark Halstead, Alex Kenyon, John O’Sullivan, Ben Pringle and Cole Stockton.

Kelvin Mellor, Nat Knight-Percival and Aaron Wildig were the only survivors from the weekend’s starting line-up with Adam Phillips given the night off altogether.

A blustery wind meant conditions were far from ideal but both sides attempted to play the right way with some good passing football on display.

The Shrimps thought they should have had a third minute penalty when Stockton went to the floor under pressure from Tedem Mengi but, to their astonishment, their appeal was waved away.

Balls down the channel were proving a fruitful avenue early on for Morecambe, albeit without fashioning much in the way of outright chances.

At the other end, United’s youngsters were tidy in possession, prompted by Hannibal Mejbri, but without the final ball to match their approach work.

After a fairly even first 20 minutes, Morecambe took control with three goals in 10 minutes.

The first came on 24 minutes when Cooney, playing on the left-hand side, drifted in from the flank and curled a fine effort beyond keeper Paul Woolston.

Four minutes later and it was 2-0 as Cooney again cut in from the flank before switching the ball onto his right foot and firing home.

It was 3-0 on 34 minutes when Woolston denied Stockton but, from the resulting corner, Davis netted emphatically.

Morecambe could have added to their tally further before the break as Woolston turned O’Sullivan’s shot behind and, from the corner, Stockton hit the woodwork.

An offside flag also denied the Morecambe striker before the break, after which the home side made two changes with the introductions of Sam Lavelle and Stephen Hendrie.

Mengi shot wide for the visitors 20 seconds into the half but, despite the conditions being in their favour, they continued to toil in attack.

In contrast, the Shrimps kept on fashioning chances with O’Sullivan and Pringle having shots at goal before the fourth arrived on 62 minutes.

Moments after he had fired over from the edge of the box, Price made no mistake with an effort that found the net via the woodwork.

He should have doubled his tally six minutes later, only to see his first-time effort from close range beaten away by Woolston.

United’s keeper again got the better of Price, keeping out his attempted chip, as the Shrimps continually looked the likelier team to score.

Arnau Puigmal had a free-kick deflected behind for United, while Davis’ last-ditch clearance ensured Morecambe kept a clean sheet to go with their victory.

Morecambe: Halstead, Mellor (Hendrie 46), Knight-Percival (Lavelle 46), Davis, Cooney, Kenyon, O’Sullivan, Wildig (Mendes-Gomes 62), Pringle, Price, Stockton. Subs not used: Turner, Slew, Diagouraga, Songo’o.

Manchester United U21s: Woolston, Devine (Bejger 78), Mengi, Fish, Neville (Elanga 61), McCann (Helm 78), Puigmal, Pellistri, Mejbri, Shoretire, Hugill. Subs not used: Carney, Stanley, Hardley, Fernandez.

Referee: Anthony Backhouse.

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