Morecambe Ladies lose out in Lancashire Cup bid

Nick Barrett’s side went down 3-1 to Blackburn Rovers in the Challenge Cup final at the County Ground in Leyland despite playing the majority of the second half with a player more after Lynda Sheppard’s red card.

The Shrimpettes were first to go close but Megan Doherty poked Georgia Lupton’s cross over the bar.

The East Lancashire side, third in the division above the Shrimps, went in front on seven minutes however with Dan Sheen volleying home Sophie Flynn’s cross from the right.

Blackburn were in the ascendancy with Morecambe goalkeeper Emma Reader called into the action on several occasions.

The Shrimps were more than making a game of it but went 2-0 down seven minutes before the break.

Jess Holbrook’s cross from the right was met by Sophie Jones who fired home to double Rovers’ lead.

Reader was then called upon to make a fine save from Sheen to make sure it was just to two-goal advantage for Blackburn at the interval.

Rovers made the better start to the second period but were soon down to 10, Sheppard being sent off for a studs up challenge on Sophie Killip.

It was the higher ranked side who got the game’s next goal however, Jones’ tame shot somehow finding its way past Reader and into the net for 3-0 just after the hour mark.

Morecambe were undeterred however and pulled a goal back with 20 minutes to play, Hannah Paling finding Doherty with a pass over the defence and as so often in her Shrimps career she made no mistake to reduce the arrears to two.

Boss Barrett rung the changes but it was Blackburn who saw the game out despite a valiant Morecambe performance.

Morecambe Ladies are next in action on Sunday when they continue their battle to beat the drop in the Women’s Premier League Northern Division One against bottom side Sheffield United Community in a game at Lancaster and Morecambe College. Kick-off 2pm.