Sky Bet League 2
Morecambe 1-5 Doncaster Rovers
Stockton 45 Butler 4
Marquis 17, 66
Blair 74
Coppinger 80
Morecambe suffered their heaviest defeat of the season yesterday, against Doncaster Rovers, meaning that they’re now the only side in the top half of League 2 with a goal-difference deficit.
Andy Butler opened the scoring early on for Darren Ferguson’s side, whilst he was backed up by John Marquis (2), Matty Blair and James Coppinger. Cole Stockton scored Morecambe’s only goal of the afternoon just before half time.
In the first meeting between the two sides since they met in Non-League in 2003, Doncaster got off to a flying start with Harry Middleton getting on the end of a great corner and Andy Butler was on hand to slot home at the far post just four minutes in.
Five minutes later Andy Williams came close to doubling Doncaster’s lead, beating the defender and shooting just wide.
The Shrimps had their first chance of the game shortly afterwards, with Ellison getting in a good position but his shot came off the defender and went over the bar.
It was Doncaster however who scored the next goal through John Marquis. A good run was made on the right hand side, and the winger put a good ball in which Edwards retrieved but failed to deal with properly- gifting the ball to Marquis who slotted home from about a yard away in the 17th minute to strengthen the lead of the away side.
Marquis almost had his second of the game in the 25th minute when he got on the end of a cross, but his header went just wide.
Towards the end of the half, the home side perked up slightly and had their only real spell of dominance, but they still didn’t look like scoring. In the 40th minute, Stockton’s shot deflected off a defender and the ball met Ellison- who could only head wide.
On the verge of half time, Cole Stockton got the ball in a very promising position and he hit the ball on the half volley past the keeper to score a goal that was very similar to the one he scored against Bournemouth a few weeks ago. Doncaster led 2-1 at half time.
The away side started off the second half similarly to how they started the first, and looked like scoring with veteran midfielder James Coppinger shooting over the bar two minutes in, and also Morecambe’s Kevin Ellison being forced to clear the ball off the line in the 54th minute.
Roughly ten minutes later, Rovers unsurprisingly scored again. Riccardo Calder made it past Morecambe full back Jennings, and his shot was saved by the legs of Roche but John Marquis was there to slot home from the rebound- his second goal of the game.
Nine minutes later the away side scored a fourth. Morecambe continued to show their vulnerability on the left hand side, as Matty Blair made it past Lee Molyneux and James Jennings without much trouble and he planted the ball in the bottom left hand corner beating Roche.
Darren Ferguson’s side weren’t finished there however. In the 81st minute James Coppinger found himself in space and he placed the ball perfectly past Barry Roche into the bottom left hand corner to score on his 500th appearance for the club.
If you thought it couldn’t get any worse for the Shrimps, it did. In the 84th minute, they were reduced to ten men as defender Alex Whitmore was sent off for a dirty tackle.
Riccardo Calder came close to making it six for Rovers late on, but his shot was saved by Roche diving to his left. Also John Marquis almost got his hat trick in added time when he was found in the box, but unfortunately for him he was offside.
As a result of the defeat, Morecambe drop down to seventh position- and next week they make the long trip to face a side whom they lost 7-0 to last season, Cambridge.
Morecambe: Roche, Wakefield (Molyneux 62), Edwards, Whitmore, Conlan (Jennings 62), Barkhuizen, Kenyon, Rose (c), Ellison, Dunn (Massanka 79), Stockton.
Subs not used: Nizic, McGowan, Mullin, Fleming
Booked: Kenyon, Barkhuizen, Rose
Sent off: Whitmore
Doncaster Rovers: Marosi, Blair, Wright, Butler, Evina, Middleton (Calder 60), Houghton, Coppinger (Beestin 86), Rowe, Marquis, Williams (Mandeville 83).
Subs not used: Etheridge, Calder, Longbottom, Fielding.
Booked: Marquis
Attendance: 1,791
James Main 