Wednesday, 28 November 2007
Pontin's League Division One West
Morecambe 1 Wrexham 3

While the first half got off to a busy start, it soon slipped into a routine of both teams enjoying a fair share of possession but creating little in front of goal.

Morecambe did take the lead on just nine minutes, the home side being handed a penalty when Gareth Evans brought down Wayne Curtis and the striker got up to hammer the spot kick high into the Wrexham net giving Michael Jones no chance.

The Shrimpers almost grabbed a second three minutes later, when the ball was loose inside the Wrexham six-yard box and despite three home players hacking at it the Dragons somehow survived.

After that there was little to report on for the rest of the half, although as the period progressed Josh Johnson was starting to send over some telling crosses.

Whatever Joey Jones said at half time worked wonders with the team, as they came flying out of the blocks after the break and within eight minutes had drawn level.

Josh Johnson danced down the left wing, switched the ball to his right foot and fired over a cross that Marc Williams met in front of goal and headed home from six-y ards.

Two minutes later Andy Fleming drove to the byeline and saw his cross was turned into the side netting by former Swansea City defender Michael Howard.

This pressure was kept on the home goal and when they could only half clear the ball on 59 minutes, winger Johnson was able to slide a pass through the home back line allowing Marc Williams to turn away from his marker before hammering a low shot under keeper Scott Davies.

The Wales U21 striker completed hat-trick inside 12 minutes, when he kept his composure to finish with a low shot when left one-on-one with Davies.

It was all one-way traffic as Wrexham completely took over the match and how more goals didn't arrive was the only surpise.

Williams managed to miss two chances that were far easier than ones he took, first turning Simon Spender's pass the wring side of a post and then failing to hit the target from only a yard out when Ryan Valentine pulled the ball back into his path.

In between, Johnson had a clear sight of goal, but his curling effort around the Morecambe keeper also beat the far post.

Overall this game demonstrated the best and worst of the squad for the watching Brian Little, as he saw them struggle to gain any momentum in the first half, but then turn the game on its head in the second and blow away their hosts.

Morecambe: Scott Davies, Phil McLuckie, Michael Howard, Danny Wisdom, Simon Grand, Jamie Burns, Paul Lloyd, Neil Sorvel, Wayne Curtis, Mathew Blinkhorn, Paul Jarvis.
Subs: Tom Farmer, Garry Ball, Ashkey Dunne, Mathew Bell, Chris Sawicki.

Wrexham: Michael Jones, Simon Spender, Ryan Valentine, Gareth Evans, Mike Williams, Matty Crowell (Lee Jones 90), Andy Fleming, Conal Murtagh (George Stewart 76), Levi Mackin, Marc Williams, Josh Johnson.
Subs: Chris Maxwell,Chris Marriott, Mark Head.

Referee: D Webb
Attendance: 60
Away: 11