Talking Points: Morecambe end long wait for League 2 win

Reporter Adam Lord takes a closer look at Morecambe's 2-1 win over AFC Wimbledon on Saturday.
Shaun Miller under pressure against AFC Wimbledon on Saturday.Shaun Miller under pressure against AFC Wimbledon on Saturday.
Shaun Miller under pressure against AFC Wimbledon on Saturday.

All about the result

It had simply got to the stage where all that mattered was three precious League 2 points. No wins in 10 games, including eight defeats, resulted in an alarming slide down to 18th in the table. The gravity of Saturday’s victory was indicated by the nervous finale after George Francomb’s goal in the final minute of the 90. Ade Azeez should have by right levelled things up in stoppage time but maybe that was the slice of luck Jim Bentley feels like his side have been missing. Prior to the late jitters, despite the result being the be all and end all, for the second straight home game Morecambe had put in a good performance. Slick football mixed with plenty of endeavour meant that despite the lack of goals it had been a decent spectacle. The goals eventually came late on with crucially, for the first time since January 16, The Shrimps coming out on the right side of a tight game.

Win that eases any fears of relegation scrap

The victory moved The Shrimps 13 points clear of the drop zone and alleviates any immediate fears they had of being dragged into a real relegation scrap. The Shrimps weren’t in serious danger with stuttering sides below them but an extension of their 10-game winless run would have really set the nerves jangling, especially with games against Dagenham & Redbridge and Hartlepool to come at the start of next month. Now the hope will be that a welcome win gives The Shrimps a freedom they’ve lacked in recent weeks, enabling them to finish the season on a high. There may be no true honours to play but with players out of contract and new owners potentially waiting in the wings there are plenty of reasons to impress in the closing weeks of the season.

Let’s not forget McGuigan’s legacy

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It may not be technically be a talking point from the game but even with a much-needed win on Saturday it’s clear what the major story from the Globe Arena this week was. Yes, moves have been made behind the scenes for some time that would perhaps have signalled the end of chairman Peter McGuigan’s involvement at the club, but to officially put it on the market is a major move and represents the beginning of the end of a defining era in Morecambe’s history. There has been plenty of criticism of the move to the Globe Arena that McGuigan masterminded and the lack of investment in the playing squad over recent seasons. But no matter what transpires in his closing weeks and months of his 16 years at the helm the former Umbro chief will always be the man who guided the club to the Football League. That’s not a bad legacy at all.