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| Morecambe 3 Daggers 2 |
| Conference - 23/08/03 |
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It might have taken a 96th minute winner to send the Daggers home pointless, but in truth, the Daggers were battered by a sharper and fitter side who could have had 6 in the first half. Chris Piper's injury meant a recall for Shipp in midfield as the only change to the team.
The Daggers actually started reasonably well, although Roberts was in action early to come and clear up behind his defence. Braithwaite should have opened the scoring early on when he got past Swan and was through down the right but for some unknown reason, he stopped and tried to pick out Stein despite being one-on-one with Mawson, allowing the defence to get back and tackle him.
It was obvious that Morecambe were going to get goals though, as Shipp rarely got goal-side of his man Drummond and allowed him the run of the pitch and exposing the defence. Bruce was also not helping Vickers, up against Thompson on his own on a wide pitch. This meant the strikers and half the midfield running at the defence and it wasn't going to be able to hold out against that for 90 minutes.
Drummond had had a shot saved by the time the scoring opened. Thompson skinned Bruce, Vickers, and the rest of the defence on his way across the box before Roberts blocked the ball at his feet. Still no defender reacted and Thompson got it across for Carlton, standing in front of an empty net and with an easy task to make it 1-0.
Braithwaite dragged one well wide of the post from range, but Roberts' goal was being peppered with shots. It looked like 2-0 when the ball came in from the right to Howell at the back post and he hammered it over from very close range when unmarked to give the Daggers a reprieve. Rigoglioso's shot was well saved by Roberts and Roberts was also well out to put Howell off who put it high and wide with his right foot when through on goal.
By now it was ridiculous how much room Morecambe were being given between the Daggers midfield and defence, Smith and Bentley having to do the work of two men as their respective partners, Matthews and Shipp's lack of fitness showed. The well deserved second came when Carlton got through, rounded Roberts and slotted home.
The Daggers were back in the game in seconds however as Bentley's cross to Janney, who flicked to the back post, found Stein to head home a goal to ensure the game wasn't over.
Shipp got the ball out from under his feet to fire wide of the far post when unmarked 20 yards out when he really should have hit the target. However, the Daggers were back level when Stein again popped up. Bruce was going nowhere down the left as he was ushered to the touchline. He threw in a last ditch cross to the edge of the box, and McKearney's lack of control let Stein in coolly finish under Mawson.
It soon turned back to sour for the visitors as Vickers saw red. Carlton got the ball and Vickers came in with a thundering tackle, appearing to win the ball, but catching Carlton with his trail leg. The referee deemed it a red card offence and no amount of protesting could avoid it.
Hunter then somehow missed from six yards, scuffing at Roberts, and Howell's goal was given offside at the back post. Hunter's attempted chip went over the bar as the Daggers tried to hold on, Meechan, Piper and Goodwin all coming on to give the Daggers more legs in midfield as all three ran their socks off to make up for the man deficit.
But with injury time already up, Morecambe won a corner. It found its way to Lane at the back post and he made no mistake to fire the ball high into the net to win the game.
Leon Braithwaite 
Lenny Piper